VAUX-VICOMTE: Candlelit evenings-every Saturday from may to sept

Our driver was friendly and helpful. The Chateau was exceptional with a great narration throughout. The dinner was 5 star.

The main problems: Is difficult to reach: there is no Bus or any public transport available from the train station, exception for taxy (40/50€ round-trip) from the station. On the castle's website is available a shuttle (only on weekends) that on "candles event" (every Saturday and on summer also on Fridays) is available only 3 times on the way and 1 time only for back... at 23:30 pm!!! at the price of 10€ per person round-trip. The events management is embarrassing: reading on the site you have the main "choice" between the "visit of 1 day excluding events" or the "candle event visit". What is not clear is that all Fridays (from 08/07 to 26/08) and Saturdays (from 14/05) are considered only tickets for candle events!! This is a huge problem because of the following consequences: - You have to book the castle ticket online and pay for it. You can't call anyone or send an e-mail for asking more information. - The castle should open at 11 A.M., but candle events start at 14:00 and so does the castle. If you don't understand this, you go to the castle by taxy (because the shuttle will never arrive in the morning, due to the candle event) paying 20€ more, even if you have already paid the shuttle service and find the castle closed. The castle is in the middle of nothing, very far from any city/village so that is very hard to reach by foot or bicycle. So you have 2 choices: pay another 20€ to go back and also lose the castle ticket if you are a tourist and have available only that day to visit this castle; or wait 3 hours in the middle of nothing, under the midday sun. This ticket problem is very common because on the same day there were 20 people (also French people, so the language misunderstanding is not the point) that understand the castle would open at 11 A.M. for whom buy the "visit of 1 day excluding events" and for whom would love to see it on the evening with the "candle event visit" can come after 2 P.M. This point is not clear at all on the website!! - If you had waited or returned by taxy (other 20€) or you take the famous shuttle: the castle will let you change your ticket paying the difference for seeing the castle with these artificial candles that don't let you admire the real beauty of the castle because the light is not enough. The ticket for this castle with candle event is more expensive than Versailles Castle even if the gardens and the castle are smaller. Versailles was inspired by this castle but is not more beautiful than Versailles. So I can't understand this huge price. About the other services: - Fortunately, the audio guide is included - The map of the castle and gardens is not included, but you can take a picture of the map if you want it (very sad) - At a point, if you want to see the panorama of the garden from the upper floor, you can pay 3/5€ extra to see it and take a picture (RIDICULOUS!!)) In the end, if you want to go there to have a romantic dinner and see the castle illuminated by candles maybe is worth it (read about other reviews on this topic), otherwise I really don't recommend this castle. There are a lot of castles, first of all Versailles, that are wonderful and easier to reach. This Castle is nice and stands out for 1 beautiful room. Is nice that there are 2 actors in the kitchen, but unfortunately they play only in French so if you don't know it you won't understand anything.

Very nice evening. The grounds from the parking to the castle does not give a good first impression.