If you have the time, take a day trip from Paris. Here are a few suggestions:
Giverny - Giverny is a village in the region of Normandy in
northern France. Impressionist painter Claude Monet lived and worked here from
1883 until his death in 1926. The artist’s former home and elaborate gardens,
where he produced his famed water lily series, are now the Claude
Monet museum. Nearby, the Musée des impressionnismes Giverny highlights the
Impressionist art movement.
Auvers-sur-Oise
-The
Auberge Ravoux is a French historic landmark located in the heart of the
village of Auvers-sur-Oise. It is known as the House of Van Gogh because the
Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh spent the last 70 days of his life as a lodger
at the auberge– Visit Vincent Van
Gogh’s room and travel on the path where he spent his last few months painting. Great little restaurant with an amazing assortment of cheese.
You can follow a map through the village and the countryside to see places where Van Gogh painted.
Fountainebleau -
Fontainebleau is a town southeast
of Paris, known for the opulent Fontainebleau Palace. Built by French royalty,
with parts dating back to the 1100s, the palace houses Marie Antoinette’s
Turkish boudoir, the Napoleon Museum and a lavish theater. Its formal gardens
feature ornamental lakes and sculptures. Surrounding the town and chateau is
Fontainebleau forest, home to Le Grand Parquet, an equestrian stadium.
I have yet to visit Rouen but hopefully soon! I have heard that it's incredible.
Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte - It is said that three villages were destroyed to build this grand chateau owned by Nicholas Fouquet in the 1660's. Fouquet was the superintendent of finances for King Louis XIV. He built such a grand estate and had such lavish parties to impress the King. Well, it worked! The King was so impressed that he had Fouquet arrested and imprisoned for life and his family exiled so he could take over the dazzling chateau. Oops....
Château
de Malmaison - The chateau de Malmaison is the former home of
Napoleon and Josephine. It is a
relatively small chateau, but decorated with original belongings of
Napoleon and
Josephine. There are also beautiful and well-known paintings (portraits)
in the
castle. If you are interested in history, absolutely worth a visit. I
went on a tour here because Mr. B inherited a pastel of this chateau
from his great aunts.The château de Malmaison, purchased by Josephine in 1799 was, together
with the Tuileries, the French government's headquarters from 1800 to
1802. When Napoleon moved to Saint-Cloud, Josephine stayed in Malmaison
and commissioned a wide range of improvements to the house. She settled
in permanently after her divorce in 1809 and died there on May 29, 1814.
Versailles - Versailles is a city in the Yvelines département in
Île-de-France region, renowned worldwide for its château, the Château de
Versailles and the gardens of Versailles, designated UNESCO World Heritage
Sites. Unfortunately I didn't have a digital camera when Mr. B and I went to Versailles many years ago and my paper photos are probably somewhere in the attic.
Loire Valley - take the TGV from Paris to Tours then rent a car
Below are Jackie and myself trying to find a route from the car rental agency to the Chateau's. I had forgotten to ask for an automatic and received a stick. Luckily it all came back to me - "just like riding a bike"! Thanks dad for teaching me to drive a stick shift all of those years ago!
Villandry – amazing gardens....just incredible. I don't even know if I have ever been inside the castle after three visits here! But they do have a little outdoor cafe that is great for a nibble.
Chenonceau - a beautiful estate. The chateau and the grounds are well worth a visit. The bouquets of flowers inside are a delight as is the kitchen filled with copper. Henri II gave the chateau to his mistress Diane de Poitiers and it was she who added the bridge over the river Cher as well as the gardens. When Henri died, the Queen, Catherine de Medici, forced Diane out of Chenonceau even though Diane was the legal owner. Catherine proceeded to build the gallery and grand ballroom on Diane's bridge which finally gave Chenonceau its now iconic look.
Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau - A much smaller chateau on the Indre River. The present castle was built in the 1520's. There is a cafe and a nice park to relax.
t is hard to imagine
Andre Le Notre laying out the exquisite landscape designs for
Vaux-le-Vicomte, and later the magnificent Chateau de Versailles, with
no high hill to stand on, no helicopter to fly in, and no drone to show
him the complexities of the terrain. Yet he did, and with extreme
precision, accuracy, and high style.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/versailles
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/versailles
"It is hard to imagine Andre Le Notre laying out the exquisite landscape designs for Vaux-le-Vicomte, and later the magnificent Chateau de Versailles, with no high hill to stand on, no helicopter to fly in, and no drone to show him the complexities of the terrain. Yet he did, and with extreme precision, accuracy, and high style." --Martha Stewart
t is hard to imagine
Andre Le Notre laying out the exquisite landscape designs for
Vaux-le-Vicomte, and later the magnificent Chateau de Versailles, with
no high hill to stand on, no helicopter to fly in, and no drone to show
him the complexities of the terrain. Yet he did, and with extreme
precision, accuracy, and high style.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/versailles
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/versailles
