From the owner: Le repère du quatrième mousquetaire Le murmure de la petite cascade plantée au milieu du parc à…read morel'anglaise vous accompagne jusqu'à l'ancienne demeure de l'écrivain fertile, auteur " Des Trois mousquetaires ", du " Comte de Monte Cristo " ou encore de la " Tulipe Noire ". Le château n'ayant pu être achevé du vivant d'Alexandre Dumas, faute de moyens, ce sont les restaurations successives que l'on peut découvrir lors de la visite. La chambre mauresque a néanmoins gardé le charme dépaysant que Dumas avait voulu lui insuffler après un voyage en Afrique du Nord. Seul le bureau dans lequel il noircissait ses feuillets, un petit pavillon néogothique qui fait face au château, n'est visible qu'à travers une vitre scellée.

From the owner: Un château reconverti en musée archéologique Le château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye a été résidence…read moreroyale de Louis VI le Gros (XIIe siècle) à Louis XIV (XVIIe siècle), qui y séjourna jusqu'à son départ pour Versailles. C'est pour sauver le château de la ruine que Napoléon III décida sa restauration en 1862 afin d'y abriter le "futur" Musée des Antiquités Nationales. Aujourd'hui, le musée présente les collections archéologiques parmi les plus riches au monde. Elles retracent l'histoire des hommes de la préhistoire au début du Moyen-Age. Tout au long de l'année, le musée propose des évènements et des activités pour tous public.

The Museum is inside the building on several levels with work from various artists including…read moreGauguin, but sculptures dot the beautiful garden which has several winding paths. The workshop was closed during my visit, but they do hold art classes at different times of the year and the 1st Sunday of every month is free all year around. A small chapel in on the property and a registered national monument. There are works by other artists like gauguin, and there's even a play area for children who may not be interested in the museum.

From the owner: Le jardin enchanteur des Nabis Si le musée consacré à Maurice Denis, peintre théoricien des Nabis,…read morea su garder intact ses trésors, le jardin a eut besoin d'une rénovation pour retrouver la souffle poétique de son ancien propriétaire. Il s'articule sur trois niveaux, le long d'un chemin sinueux qui rejoint les portes de la maison de l'artiste. Autour du musée, les sculptures d'Antoine Bourdelle et une cour intérieur prolongée par une longue terrasse qui domine l'espace vert ; en suivant l'escalier, on traverse la roseraie et un véritable " théâtre de verdure " avant de finir son parcours enchanteur par la partie la plus basse qui comprend un bassin et une fontaine.

The coach gallery at the Royal Stables of Château de Versailles is impressive ... because the…read morehorse-drawn carriages are impressive (extravagant, pretentious, gaudy, or pick a word) ... just as they were 200 years ago, 100 years ago, and today. French Royalty (like Louis XIV), Emperors (like Napoleon I), and state visitors (like Czar Nicolas II) all rode in pimped out traveling thrones designed to impress with so much attention-grabbing bling that even Liberace would of been embarrassed. The stables were built from 1679 to 1682 and manned by up to 1,500 people during the Louis XIV era to house 2,000 horses. This setting on the ground floor of the Great Stables is a perfect home for the carriage museum. The coaches are works of art ... blending gold decorations, wood carvings, metal work, upholstery, and other decorative elements in creative, ostentatious, and luxurious ways to show the splendor of the sovereign. * Open 12:30 - 5:30 p.m. (6:30 in summer) * Closed Mondays * Admission is free / No ticket required * It's about 5 minute walk from the Château * Plan about 1 hour or less * There is no tour nor is it needed * Photography (without flash) is allowed * No food or drink allowed La Galerie des Carrosses at Les Écurie Royales is impressive. If your visit to Château de Versailles permits an hour excursion, I recommend taking the time to see the museum ... because the carriages were crafted to impress ... and their ornate flamboyance continues to impress.

The Grand Ecurie just opened for tours a year or so ago, so many Versailles visitors may…read moreunknowingly pass it by. It's a good stop on the way back to the train station - it's right on the way. Best of all - it's FREE! The exhibit space isn't huge - maybe it will take 30 minutes to go through, but it's worth a short detour. You'll get to see inside the historic stables, which still have the old feeding troughs. The kings horses lived better than I do - the interior is beautiful. The carriages on display are from the reign of Napoleon and later with lots from Napoleon III. I was a little surprised there wasn't anything from the Ancien Regime but maybe none of that stuff survived? Anyway, it's a great detour to a day trip to Versailles and a fascinating look at the old stables. If you're lucky, you may see some of the resident horses being trained.

Visiting the Château de Versailles was truly a dream come true. The architecture is absolutely…read morestunning--every detail, from the grand halls to the intricate ceilings, is a testament to the opulence of the French monarchy. The grounds are just as impressive: beautifully kept gardens, sparkling fountains, and perfectly restored landscapes that make you feel like you've stepped back in time. As someone who loves history, I was in heaven. The palace is filled with artifacts from the Sun King himself, Louis XIV, and the stories about his many mistresses add an extra layer of intrigue. I could have spent hours just wandering the Hall of Mirrors and imagining the lavish parties that once took place there. Marie Antoinette's area, with its charming hamlet and gorgeous gardens, was a highlight for me--so peaceful and picturesque. We spent an entire day exploring and still barely scratched the surface. There's just so much to see and experience! I also have to mention the restaurants on the grounds. The food was surprisingly good--fresh, flavorful, and honestly better than most of what I get back home in America. If you love history, art, or just want to be wowed by breathtaking beauty, Versailles is an absolute must-see. I loved every minute and can't wait to go back!

Of everything we did in Paris, this was top five for sure. I booked tickets in advance and we took…read morethe RER C train right to the Versailles station. From there it is a 7 or 10 minute walk to the entrance. You do need to plan for several hours if not the majority of a day to explore the chateau and the gardens. Also, it is very, very crowded, so expect to be shuffled along in a current of people, especially in popular areas like the Hall of Mirrors. We had kids with us that were not impressed by the gilded treasures, so we spent probably more time in the gardens than the palace. Let me tell you - the expanse of these gardens is impressive. At one point it looked like they go on for eternity. Just take your time strolling through and exploring all of the different little alcoves. We did do a boat ride in the Grand Canal lake and enjoyed some snacks and drinks in one of the cafes tucked into one of the gardens. One thing we did not know, is that if you want to book a ride on the train, you will have to do that when you are still at the chateau and they do sell out. You can also rent a golf cart in the same way. Overall I greatly enjoyed all the splendor and grandeur of this magical place. Worth the time and the travel.

From the owner: La vitrine des grandes heures de l'histoire Versaillaise Installé partiellement dans un hôtel du…read moreXVIIIème, le musée de Versailles retrace l'histoire de la ville en explorant l'atmosphère précieuse des demeures du siècle des lumières. Réouvert après travaux en septembre 2010 le musée propose de découvrir le patrimoine de la Ville à travers 3 départements emblématiques : Le département historique, en grande partie dédié à la période Révolutionnaire, présentera de nombreux aspects de la ville vus sous différents angles, des objets insolites ayant appartenu à des personnages historiques de Versailles ou encore des témoignages de la vie versaillaise à l'époque de l'Ancien régime. Le premier étage, consacré aux Arts décoratifs, transportera les visiteurs dans l'appartement d'un particulier vivant à la fin du XVIIIème siècle. Décorée de meubles originaux estampillés de noms tels Criaert, Kemp, ou Topino cette reconstitution fidèle et " vivante " plongera le visiteur dans l'atmosphère

I'm not a history buff I rather enjoyed my visit here. As is the case with most French museums, go…read moreEARLY - go too late in the day you'll be elbowing your way just to get a view of anything. For me, the gardens were the real standout. Unfortunately, we were there just before the spring bloom so it had a wintry feel to it but they were still amazingly impressive. At my urging, we toured the gardens via golf cart and I'm so glad we did. (You're likely to be doing a lot of walking on a France trip so save your feet when you can.) We were able to see more in less time this way and it's a bit easier to get away from the crowd.

Wonderful place to visit. The art and scenery was very nice here…read more Would return if back in France. Recommendation

The Empress Joséphine's beloved chateau at Malmaison is well worth a visit if you are interested in…read moreNapoleon and his times, although it can be a bit of a trek out of Paris to get there and involves a bit of a walk. The house itself is quite plain but charming and it is easy to see why Joséphine (who died here of a cold caught while showing her roses to the Russian Emperor) loved it so much and why her grumpy husband felt so at ease here! The interior is a fabulous example of Napoleonic and Neo Classical art and design at its finest with some exquisite furniture and paintings on show. There is also a permanent exhibition of some of the Empress' own dresses and robes, which is absolutely fascinating. The shop is good as well. You can also visit the tombs of Joséphine and her daughter La Reine Hortense in the nearby church. Again, it is a bit of a trek but worth the effort. How many people can say they have seen the Empress Joséphine's tomb after all?