Château de Fontainebleau & Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte: Daytrip from Paris

Leaving central Paris in the morning, you'll soon be on your way to the very château that inspired King Louis XIV to build Versailles. Enter the 17th-century Vaux le Vicomte and imagine the sleeping French nobles and the bustling cooks in action as your 3D-sound audio guide takes you around Nicolas Fouquet's staterooms and the château's giant kitchens and cellars.

Outside, explore acres and acres of sculpted bushes, glistening lakes, and bright flower beds in bloom – it's French romance at its finest. Take a picnic and eat on the grass, or opt for the Vaux le Vicomte restaurant.

After lunch, it's time to explore the only royal and imperial château that's been inhabited for seven centuries, Fontainebleau.

Explore the royal touches from medieval to renaissance and classical styles, and don't miss Napoleon I's throne and the famous horseshoe-shaped staircase. If you've opted to dress up in costume, this is the perfect moment for a selfie!