Expeditions to Central-France
Above all the castles around Paris – especially Versailles, of course – are world-famous. Nowhere else are so many spectacular buildings of kings located in such a high concentration – you see, Paris was already «hip» in the middle-age! But the Île-de-France, how the Parisian rural environment is called, offers much more than only the houses of its monarchs': Complete middle-age towns, romantic rivers and an impressive nature are looking forward to your visit.
Please find animal and fun parks which are situated outside of Paris in the separate collective category
«Theme Parks».
Above all the castles around Paris – especially Versailles, of course – are world-famous. Nowhere else are so many spectacular buildings of kings located in such a high concentration – you see, Paris was already «hip» in the middle-age! But the Île-de-France, how the Parisian rural environment is called, offers much more than only the houses of its monarchs': Complete middle-age towns, romantic rivers and an impressive nature are looking forward to your visit.
Please find animal and fun parks which are situated outside of Paris in the separate collective category
«Theme Parks».
 Basilique (Cathédrale) de St-Denis  Famous is the basilica 11 km outside of Paris because of its function as burial place for the French kings of all times. The first funeral took place already between 565 and 570: With the death of queen Arégonde, wife of king Clotaire, I., the tradition began. Today it allows the visitors a worldwide unique impression of the funeral rituals of the European nobility. With exception of the kings Philippe, I. († 1108), Louis, VII. († 1180), and Louis, XI. († 1483), every monarch of the country found here his eternal peace – also the mortal remains of the decapitated Louis, XVI., and his wife Marie-Antoinette, who died both on the place de la Concorde. 42 kings, 32 queens, 63 princes and princesses layed out in state in their stony sarcophaguses until their corps were desecrated during the French Revolution by the angry people. Because of that the coffins are empty today; the skeletons are kept since 1817 in the secure krypta.
The basilica is a building of amazing importance, with it the Gothic Era began. The nave has a length of 108 m and a height of 29 m (both towers 84 m). A legend tells that around 250 the martyr Dionysius ran to this place after his execution by the guillotine on Montmartre – with his head under his arm – to be buried on site. Around 500 the construction works of the monestary complex began. Later it had have big influence on the sovereigns of the nation. Not before 1966 the basilica became a cathedral. ► Opening hours: From April 1st to September 30th weekdays 10:00 a.m. until 6:15 p.m., on sundays 1:00 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. From October 1st to March 31st weekdays 10:00 a.m. until 5:15 p.m., on sundays 1:00 p.m. until 5:15 p.m. Closed on Januar 1st, May 1st and December 25th. Admission charges: € 6,10, reduced € 4,10 (optional audio guide € 4,–). Address: 1, Rue de la Légion d’Honneur · F 92700 St-Denis · www.monum.fr · Phone 01.48.09.83.54 · Fax 01.48.09.82.80 · Métro: Basilique de Saint-Denis · RER: D to Saint-Denis · SCNF: Line T1 to Saint-Denis · Car: Motorway A1 from Paris direction Lille, exit «Basilique de St-Denis»  |
 Château de Rambouillet The big, baroque hunting castle of the French kings, 51 km in the southwest of Paris, owns an large-scaled designed park with ramified canals, seas and wide avenues. The area is surrounded by a 20'000 ha large wood. From François, I. (1515-1547), who was murdered here, to Charles, X., (1824-1830), who abdicated here, more or less every monarch of the country stayed here for relaxation. Since 1870 receptions of the French state president take place here, e.g. in 1975 the first meeting of the seven most powerful industry nations, the today's «G7», at all. It was directed in those days by Valérie Giscard d'Estaing. The history of the château began as simple living house. On May 6th, 1368, knight Johan Bernier bought it and enlarged the complex by order of Charles, V. On initiative of François Mitterand the castle and garden got partially renovated in the 80s. ► Opening hours: From April to September daily except on tuesdays 10:00 until 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 until 5:30 p.m. From October to March daily except on tuesdays 10:00 until 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 until 4:30 p.m. Closed each tuesday as well as on January 1st, May 1st, November 1st and 11th, December 25th. Visits only for groups of 50 persons and after arrangement 14 days before your visit. Address: F 78120 Rambouillet · www.monum.fr · Phone: 01.34.83.00.25 · Car: From Paris-Porte de St-Cloud motorway A13, exit no. 6, than via motorway A12 on highway N10 direction Rambouillet |
 Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte  The castle is beautiful but the approach without car a farce! Vaux-le-Vicomte is the role model for Versailles. It is located 50 km south-eastern from Paris and was owned once by the finance minister of Louis, XVI., Nicolas Fouquet. On the evening of the Abend der inauguration, 1661/08/17, the king went green with envy and departed still in the same night inflamed with rage. Three weeks later Louis commanded to arrest Fouquet and to lock him away in the dungeon of Perpignol until his death on March 23rd, 1680.
While tourists overstock Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte is an oasis of quietness. The reason for that is doubtlessly its bad transport connection. The castle is today privately owned. After intensive reconstruction works it is also in its original order again. ► Opening hours: March to November daily 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Address:F 77950 Maincy · www.vaux-le-vicomte.com · Phone 01.64.14.41.90 · via public transport: Trains from Gare de Lyon to Melun, than 6 km by feet or by taxi to the castle; via car: A4 direction Metz/Reims, than A86 direction Melun-Sénart, than N6 to Melun and follow the signs. |
 Château de Versailles   Versailles was nothing else than a dreary, lost, awful hole right in the swamps when Louis, XIII., selected the village as location for a small hunting castle. Nothing spectacular, more functional in regards to the king's normal conditions. Already in 1635 Louis, XIV., the later «Sun King», dwelled here. When he came finally into power he decided to overtrump once and for all the licentious luxury of his Minister of Finance, Fouquet, which got out of hand. At Fouquets architects Le Brun, le Nôtre and Le Vau he gave a castle in order which should puts each other residence in the shade. With that the Versailles Castle was born and grew with the political victories of its owner: After the «Peace of Aachen» in 1688 the royal apartments came into being, as a result of the «Peace of Nijmwegen» the world-famous and unique mirror hall followed in 1679. Three years later the château has been enlarged by the North and South wings, the Orangierie and the horse stables. With them Versailles became both the most magnificent and the biggest castle complex of Europe.
 Almost 40'000 people and 5'000 horses were anxious to do justice anewly to the king's architectonical demands. Louis', XIV., last vision was realised in 1697: The less-than-modest castle chapel. In 1715 the «Roi du Soleil» died, but his successor, king Louis, XV., continued the enlargement from 1736: Under his leadership one raised e.g. the opera which has been inaugaurated on the occassion of his son's marriage with Marie-Antoinette in 1769. The French Revolution in 1789 chased the monarch's family head over heels to Paris where the guillotine awaits them on the place de la Concorde – with that Versailles' glamour days were over for all times.
Still two times the Château de Versailles played a role on the world-political parquet: In 1871 during the coronation of Wilhelm, I., the German emperor who had defeated France, and on June 28th, 1919, when Germany signed its surrender and the First World War came to the end. Due to money from the U.S.A. it succeeded to restore the castle intensively, to buy up a part of the original furnitures or to replace it style-concurringly.  The Royal Garden: Behind the gigantic compex awaits you the still today most spectacular palace garden in Europe. With its straight lines and its perfect symmetry it is the absoulute ideal of the vlassical, French landscape architecture. Le Nôtre designed the area like so many other parks in Paris downtown, too. Today the personal expenditure which was necessary in sub-terranean tunnels for operating dozens of fountains is no more imaginable. You know, in those days muscle power was indeed the only known energy resource. To prevent unnecessary dilapidation, the many water installations are, «guarded» by several statues, activated only on selected days in the summer. Detailed informations are available on the website of the castle administration.
 The Royal Village: From the beginning Marie-Antoinette disagreed with the courtly label. At Richard Mique she ordered in 1783 a romantic village in a rustic scenery, upon which she retired occassionally for keeping sheeps and goats really! Living and stable buildings as well as the windmill were kept completely in the traditional architectural style of the Normandie but were equipped with every comfort on the other hand. When the construction works were finished Marie-Antoinette commanded the moving-in of a family from the Touraine which had to care from now about the queen's cattle and to supply her with fresh eggs, milk, cheese and cream.
► Review: «When the fountains glow at night» (2008). Admission charges: There a various combinations possible. For reasons of clearness we focus the unguided visits of the state apartments and the parks! State apartments (entrance A): € 7,50, reduced € 5,30, persons under 18 years free (optional audio guide dorch everyone € 4,50). Opening hours: Daily from Tuesday to Sunday, except the French bank holidays. Between April and October from 9:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. as well as between November and March from 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Palace Garden: € 3,–, persons under 18 years free (between November and March the entrance is free for everybody). Opening hours: In case of good weather daily from 7:00 a.m. in the summer resp. 8:00 a.m. in the winter until sunset (depending on the season between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m.). Ticcket offices close half an hour bevor closure. Address: Place d'Armes · F 78008 Versailles · www.chateauversailles.fr · Phone 01.30.83.78.00 · Train: RER C5 from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles-Rive Gauche · Bus: 171 from Pont de Sévres to Versailles-Place d'Armes · Car: from Paris motorway A13 direction Rouen, exit «Versailles-Château»
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 Stade de France In occassion of the Football World Cup 1998 the Stade de France has been built. And it worked: France won the championships yet! Besides athletic and ball sport events, opera stagings and concerts take regularly place. It can also be visited for a consideration.
► A complete programme you find on the website of the operators. Address: 1, Place Stade de France · F 93216 St-Denis La Plaine · Phone 08.92.70.09.00 (0,15 €/Min.) · Fax 01.55.93.00.05 · www.stadedefrance.fr · Métro: Saint-Denis/Porte de Paris · RER: B to La Plaine Stade de France, D until Stade de France-Saint-Denis |   |
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