Splendid Chateau - I chose to do Vaux-le-Vicomte because Versailles sounded too crowded. While I can't, then, compare directly to Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte did not disappoint! It's a splendid chateau and estate; it started the classic French garden tradition; and it's the palace that INSPIRED Versailles. Plus, like half the size but a tenth of the crowds. I'm glad we went. I suggest starting with the chateau tour. I thought the audioguide was excellent; it dramatically told the tragic story of the man who built the chateau. Actors portray different characters and the production values are high; you can hear voices coming from the side or doors closing behind you. It's easy to use because the narration starts up automatically when you enter different rooms. However, my husband noted it didn't tell the story quite in order, so it left us still slightly confused as to what went down. The audioguide covers the upper rooms. There is an additional 5 euro charge per person to enter the dome at the top, so we skipped that. After you hand in the audioguide, you descend below stairs to learn about the kitchens and the maitre d'hotel who set up a lot of the rules of French gastronomy. As of July 2024, there was also a temporary exhibit on French gardens, which is why I suggest do this before you enjoy the gardens. There is also a kids' audioguide, a kids' search for a squirrel (the mascot of Foquet who built the castle), and sometimes it looks like kids can rent costumes for the latter half of the tour. The garden is huge! It doesn't look it from the top, but it goes on and on. If you really want to check out the whole thing, consider renting the golf cart (seats 4, 25 euros for an hour). Or, just walk a bit and look at it. There are lots of statues and the chateau is surrounded by a real live moat! Then you can wrap things up in the carriage house. There is also a very nice gift shop. Lots of squirrel theme stuff. We brought a picnic for lunch; there are lots of nice tables overlooking the garden where you can eat.

Don't miss this tour! - The audioguide was helpful in understanding the people involved in the history of Vaux Le Vicomte. The self-guided tour was well designed and the audioguide continues when you're ready to move to the next room. Each room also has an information board where you can learn more about the room and the things in it. I highly recommend visiting Vaux Le Vicomte because it is an important link in the History of France and in the development of French architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture.

a day tour to Vaux Le vicomte - We got a bus near The station in Melun and we arrived at the castle in a quarter of an hour-We visited the gardens and then the castle.We had an audioguide.We knew the story of the castle.Good price

Great way for history to come alive - We loved this self guided tour. The audio portion was really fun. It brought the story of the property alive. The only glitch was that we bought the shuttle and audio tour but we didn’t get tickets ahead for the shuttle and had to pay twice. The person handing out the headsets said we didn’t get them but then relented. Other than these issues it was a fun place to slowly stroll through, take in the history and understand the turbulent times in which this house was created.

A day in the Sun - Beautiful Chateau with less people than Versailles. Make sure you spend all day there, take a picnic, or grab something to eat at either the Kiosk or the restaurant outside of the lunch rush. The bus from Melun is well worth it, though consider catching the 6pm bus home so you have more time in the garden - it’s huge, 3km! The audio tour was exceptional and for non French speakers a must.

A very well maintained castle - Very pretty castle, the audio guide tour is very very well done ✅. The restaurant is quite good and the restaurant prices remain good despite it being within the premises.

Visit to the Chateau vaux le Vimconte 60 km from Paris - Well-kept castle and gardens 60 km from Paris. The story of the Sun King's envy for the grandeur and sumptuousness of the furnishings to obscure Versailles is very interesting. Many rooms still have original furnishings and wallpapers. The reconstruction of the kitchens is also interesting. Free parking The visit was very affordable, as was the internal selfie service where we had lunch.

Fun chateau experience. - Interesting house tour. No crowds, on a day when Versailles was packed. Having golf carts for the huge gardens was fun for the kids.

Beautiful Palace, no show on shuttle - Shuttle was no where to be found after arriving at the melun train station. Went to the pickup up point and waited, finally I asked a bus driver, and he said “it’s not running today due to Easter Monday”! We ended up taking an Uber! Would like to be refunded for the transportation portion, please! Palace was beautiful!

Disappointment - The headsets for the tour don't work very well. Obligation to change helmet 3 times. Young man for the cart rental very unpleasant, bordering on incorrectness. Magnificent setting which is spoiled by very average speakers.