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Chateaux de Vaux le Vicomte (Melun) – Want to know where Louis XIV got all his decorating ideas for Versailles? Visit Vaux le Vicomte, a truly gorgeous 17th century chateau that's got it all – lavish palace, lakes, gardens, grottos, fountains, a Great Canal. Before its creator, Charles Fouquet, got tossed in jail, he held the splashiest fetes at Vaux le Vicomte with fireworks, plays by Moliere, royalty strolling through the gardens. |
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Pick up a copy of a discovery tour for kids as they explore the palace and grounds. On weekends, kids can dress up in costumes and then visit the formal state rooms (really sets the scene). There are also seasonal events, such as treasure hunts – click here for the events schedule. |
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Vaux le Vicomte is much less crowded than the more famous Versailles, highly recommended by the Lee family, this is a super day trip from Paris. |
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Forest of Fontainbleau – The Forest of Fontainbleau
was created to protect the royal hunting grounds. Today the birch and oak
forests are the perfect place to hike, bike or ride on horseback. Trails
are well marked. |
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 If
you're interested in a king's hunting castle, visit the Chateau of Fontainebleau.
The gardens are spectacular, with large ponds, pine grottos, fountains and
pavilions. |
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France Miniature Parc (Elancourt) – See France from a bird's
eye view. Kids will tower over scale models of Loire chateaux, Mont Saint-Michel,
medieval cities or Roman amphitheaters. For directions to France Miniature, click here. Open in the summer months only. |
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Chartres Cathedral (Chartres) – The Cathedrale
de Notre Dame at Chartres is a sparkling gem of Gothic architecture. It's
something to experience in person. The stained glass windows glow in the
rich darkness of the cathedral. Look for the circular labyrinth in the pavement
underneath the Rose Window. Climb up the tower for a view and the
full effect of the architecture of the cathedral. |
