France 2008

[Patricia Lotte]

I love that chateau. It's just 8km from where my parents live so I go there everytime I'm home. It's stunning.

[georgswa (Georg Ruf)]

@ Patricia

I enjoyed it too. Its much larger then the other Kings Chateaux´s that we have visited, but you would know best

Thought i have never been to Versaille

[georgswa (Georg Ruf)]

Chateau Langeais with english narration by Georg

Part 1

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=NwBG9LRZbxM

Part 2

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=5sOqoiM7iEg

[Cherry (Alcock)]

Lucky me; just heard this week that I'm going to a conference in Paris early November - have 4 days before I have to be in the UK so hopefully I'll get out of Paris a wee bit and see some Chateaux!  Never been to France so looking forward to it.

[georgswa (Georg Ruf)]

Hi Cherry

If you have enough time apart from Paris you can visit

1) Fontainbleau ( see video) about 80 km south of Paris

2) Veaux le Vicompte near Melun about 70 km

3) Versaille even closer dont know the distance could be about 40 km

1) and 2) is one days trip

There is Bus Tours also to the main chateaux on the Loire between 2 and 4 days but that is fairly stressy

Whatever,tell us when you come back, i am most interested of your impressions

Regards Georg

[Cherry (Alcock)]

Thank you so much for the advice Georj; I will certainly try to get to some of them; certainly Versailles & Fontainebleu.  Will post pics!

[georgswa (Georg Ruf)]

Hi Cherry

If possible, Fontainbleau first, after that Versaille since that is a fantastic place, you would be disappointed of Fontainebleau the other way round

Why i suggested Vaux le vicompte is as follows.

The finance Minister of Louis XIV (Fouqet ?) had built that. He invited the King, when he had seen that it is nicer then any other chateau ( after that he built Versaille) he imprisoned the minister for the rest of his life supecting that was all stolen money from the state. The wife of the minister however was allowed to return after 10 years.

Lets see what Patricia has to suggest, its where she comes from

[georg ruf jr.]

Patricia comes from prison??

[georgswa (Georg Ruf)]

Patricia comes from prison??

If she is that old and the wife of that minister ..... Baby Jail >>>>>  baby2

Ask her !!!!!

[Patricia Lotte]

Hey the 2 Georg’s, don’t let everyone know that I did some time behind bars … I have a reputation to maintain …

Cherry, I would definitely advice you to do Fontainbleau and Vaux le Vicomte as Georg suggested. They’re both stunning and can be done on the same day. They’re both on the same train line, so you just jump on the train at Gare de Lyon and get off at Melun (the direct train takes 25 minutes from Paris to Melun) where you can go to Vaux le Vicomte and then get back on the train and continue to Fontainbleau (about 15 minutes). Once done, you can take the train straight back from Fontainbleau to Paris. Definitely worth the trip. Obviously you can do Fontainbleau first and then Vaux le Vicomte. I’d suggest you check the train timings to decide. Might actually be better to do Fontainbleau first as there are more trains from Melun back to Paris.

And what Georg didn’t say about Vaux le Vicomte is that Eva Longoria and Tony Parker got married there last year … now that makes it worth the detour, doesn’t it.

Check out the website to get more info especially on how to get from the train station in Melun to the chateau http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/accueil.php

[georgswa (Georg Ruf)]

Ah Patricia, so that is the story......LOL

Now lets see another chateau, was Patricia already there ???? or do you leave that all the visits to me ??

CHATEAU VILLANDRY AND ITS FAMOUS GARDENS A MUST SEE FOR GARDEN LOVERS

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=txJeT8Gdq00

[georg ruf jr.]

Neat little maze there...

The other version you sen via PM is even better. More details...
Great.

[Cherry (Alcock)]

Thank you Georg, Patricia et al.  I will defintely be printing out your advice as I've now got three days in Paris at leisure before I have to be in London - yippee!  Can't wait!

[georgswa (Georg Ruf)]

Villandry Part 2

Inside views

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=nH9xK2nmt7Q

[georgswa (Georg Ruf)]

Azay le Rideau Video

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=Va_tvozoL6s