The Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, at Maincy (Seine-et-Marne), 50 km (31 mi) from Paris, is open in 2026 from 14 March to 1 November, every day from 10 am to 5:30 pm (last entry at the ticket desks), except Saturdays from 16 May to 26 September and 13 July, which are reserved for events. The château and garden ticket costs €18 full price and €14.50 reduced, and is free under 6. The Grand Noël (Grand Christmas) takes over from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with compulsory booking. Here are the prices, the Candlelit Evenings, getting there by train via Melun and the climate month by month.
Vaux-le-Vicomte is an easy day trip from Paris: see our guide to visiting Paris, and for a day of châteaux, our page on the Château de Fontainebleau, about 20 km (12 mi) away.
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Vaux-le-Vicomte: key facts
- 2026 season: 14 March to 1 November, every day from 10 am to 5:30 pm (last entry at the ticket desks), except Saturdays from 16 May to 26 September and 13 July — checked on 23 October 2026 on vaux-le-vicomte.com
- Standard price (outside events): château and garden €18; reduced €14.50 (students, job seekers, ages 6–17, disability card or CMI); family (2 adults + 2 or 3 children aged 6 to 17) €59; garden only €13.50; free under 6
- Grand Noël: 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, online booking compulsory, €20.90 to €27.90 depending on age and day — checked on 23 October 2026 on vaux-le-vicomte.com
- Booking: recommended outside events (a lane reserved for tickets bought in advance, no skip-the-line ticket); compulsory during events
- Getting there: RER line R train Paris-Gare de Lyon to Melun (about 25 min according to the château), then shuttle or taxi; free parking
Prices and tickets
| Ticket (outside 2026 events) | Price |
|---|---|
| Château and garden, full price | €18 |
| Château and garden, reduced rate | €14.50 |
| Family rate (2 adults + 2 or 3 children aged 6 to 17) | €59 |
| Garden only | €13.50 |
| Child under 6 | free |
| Dome (supplement, from 1.35 m / 4 ft 5 in, on site) | + €5 |
Our calculation: for 2 adults and 2 children aged 6 to 17, individual tickets come to €65.0 against €59 for the family rate, a saving of €6.0; with 3 children, €79.5 against €59, a saving of €20.5. Destination de Voyage calculation based on the official price grid.
A ticket can be changed from the customer area of the online ticket office, against a ticket at the same rate and subject to availability. There is no skip-the-line ticket, but a ticket bought in advance gives access to a reserved lane. The official ticket office is the one on the château’s website; bus excursions from Paris (combined with Fontainebleau) are offered by tour operators that the château cites.
Events: Candlelit Evenings and Grand Noël
- Soirées aux Chandelles (Candlelit Evenings): every Saturday from 16 May to 26 September 2026, from 11 am to 9:30 pm (last entry at the ticket desks). From 5:30 pm, the château and gardens are lit by more than 2,000 candles; fountain displays from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Booking compulsory; €22 ticket (full price). They go ahead in the rain, but the fireworks and the outdoor candles depend on the weather.
- Le Rendez-vous Grand Siècle: Saturday 23 May 2026 (€23 full price).
- La Grande Chasse aux œufs (the Great Egg Hunt): 4, 5 and 6 April 2026 (€19).
- Le Grand Noël: 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, Wednesday to Sunday until 18 December (10:30 am–8 pm), then every day from 19 December to 2 January (10:30 am–9 pm, except 24 and 31 December until 6 pm); closed on 25 December and 1 January. The château advises allowing a little over 4 hours; ice rink at €5 on site.
| Grand Noël 2026 | Weekdays | Weekends and French school holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3 | free | free |
| Ages 3 to 17 | €20.90 | from €22.90 |
| Reduced rate | €20.90 | from €22.90 |
| Full price | €25.90 | from €27.90 |
| Garden only | €19 | from €20 |
What to see at Vaux-le-Vicomte
The château, built from 1653 by Louis Le Vau for Nicolas Fouquet, is visited on three levels: Fouquet’s private apartments on the first floor, the state rooms on the ground floor (Grande Chambre carrée, Chambre des Muses, Chambre du Roi) and the basement with the great kitchen. Outside events, an immersive audio route with headphones is included in the ticket.
André Le Nôtre’s French formal garden covers 33 hectares (82 acres), along a perspective of more than three kilometers (2 mi), with 63 statues and a water network that still works by gravity. Add the Carriage Museum in the stables and, for those over 1.35 m (4 ft 5 in), the climb to the dome, 25 meters (82 ft) high (€5 on site). Electric buggies can be rented on site, with no reservation.
When to visit: climate and sunset
| Month | Max | Min | Rain days ≥ 1 mm | Sun (h/day) | Sunset (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.9 °C (44 °F) | 1.6 °C (35 °F) | 10.7 | 1.9 | 5:20 pm |
| February | 8.3 °C (47 °F) | 1.4 °C (34 °F) | 9.8 | 3.0 | 6:09 pm |
| March | 12.5 °C (55 °F) | 3.4 °C (38 °F) | 9.1 | 4.6 | 6:53 pm |
| April | 16.2 °C (61 °F) | 5.4 °C (42 °F) | 9.0 | 6.3 | 8:39 pm |
| May | 19.7 °C (67 °F) | 9.0 °C (48 °F) | 9.8 | 7.0 | 9:22 pm |
| June | 23.0 °C (73 °F) | 12.1 °C (54 °F) | 8.9 | 7.5 | 9:52 pm |
| July | 25.6 °C (78 °F) | 13.9 °C (57 °F) | 7.7 | 7.6 | 9:47 pm |
| August | 25.5 °C (78 °F) | 13.7 °C (57 °F) | 7.9 | 7.3 | 9:04 pm |
| September | 21.4 °C (71 °F) | 10.7 °C (51 °F) | 7.9 | 6.0 | 8:02 pm |
| October | 16.3 °C (61 °F) | 8.1 °C (47 °F) | 9.5 | 3.8 | 7:00 pm |
| November | 10.6 °C (51 °F) | 4.5 °C (40 °F) | 10.6 | 2.3 | 5:10 pm |
| December | 7.3 °C (45 °F) | 2.2 °C (36 °F) | 11.7 | 1.8 | 4:53 pm |
How to read it: from May to September, highs range from 20 to 26 °C (68 to 78 °F), with fewer than 10 rain days a month, ideal conditions for the 33 hectares (82 acres) of garden. For the Candlelit Evenings, the sun sets around 9:52 pm in mid-June and around 8:02 pm in mid-September: early in the season, night falls after closing time; late in the season, you enjoy the candles in the dark. The château reports longer waits at the ticket desks from mid-June to mid-September and during the Christmas holidays, and about twenty minutes on busy Saturdays.
Getting to Vaux-le-Vicomte
- Train: RER line R from Paris-Gare de Lyon to Melun (direct train, about 25 minutes according to the château).
- From Melun station: daily château shuttle on reservation (departing avenue Gallieni, in front of the Café de la Gare), or a taxi in 10 to 15 minutes; the château estimates the fare at €18 to €25 in daytime.
- Car: A4 then N104 and A5b (exit 14 Voisenon), or A6 then N104, A5 and D82. Free, unattended parking. GPS coordinates: 48.568727, 2.713580.
- Grand Noël shuttle: round trip from Paris (Cour Saint-Émilion, metro line 14) on the event’s opening days, departing 2 pm, returning 7 pm, on reservation.
- Bicycle: a 9 km (6 mi) Melun–Vaux loop (about 1 hour 15 minutes); the estate has the Accueil Vélo label, but bicycles must stay in the car park.
Accessibility and visitor rules
The château is difficult to access for visitors with reduced mobility: about thirty steps at the entrance, no lift to the first floor, cobblestones and gravel in the garden. A manual wheelchair is lent for the ground floor, the château is not accessible to electric wheelchairs, and reserved spaces exist in the paved car park. Strollers and umbrellas are not allowed inside (stroller park). Dogs on a leash are admitted in the garden on weekdays, never in the château or on weekends.
Common mistakes
- Coming on a summer Saturday expecting a standard daytime visit: these are the Candlelit Evenings, with compulsory booking.
- Going out for lunch: any exit from the estate is final; picnic areas are available on site.
- Arriving after 5:30 pm: that is the last entry time at the ticket desks.
- Cycling along the paths: bicycles are not allowed in the estate.
- Taking wedding photos: they are not allowed on the estate.
Frequently asked questions
What are the opening hours of Vaux-le-Vicomte?
In 2026, from 14 March to 1 November, from 10 am to 5:30 pm (last entry at the ticket desks), except Saturdays from 16 May to 26 September and 13 July. The Grand Noël has its own hours.
How much does it cost to visit Vaux-le-Vicomte?
€18 full price for the château and garden, €14.50 reduced, €59 for the family ticket, €13.50 for the garden only; free under 6.
How do you get to Vaux-le-Vicomte without a car?
RER line R from Paris-Gare de Lyon to Melun (about 25 minutes), then the château shuttle on reservation or a taxi (10 to 15 minutes).
How long does it take to visit Vaux-le-Vicomte?
The château gives about 1 hour for the self-guided route through the château during the Grand Noël, and advises a little over 4 hours for the whole event; allow half a day for the château, garden and Carriage Museum.
When are the Candlelit Evenings?
Every Saturday from 16 May to 26 September 2026, with access from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm for the evening ticket; online booking compulsory.
Is parking at Vaux-le-Vicomte paid?
No, parking is free, including for coaches, but it is unattended.
Our sources
- Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte (vaux-le-vicomte.com): practical information, FAQ, Le Grand Noël, The Dome, The Château, The Garden, consulted on 23 October 2026
- Météo-France: climate sheet, 1991–2020 statistics, Melun station (77306001, 91 m), donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, applied by Destination de Voyage to the coordinates published by the château (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.