Happy days in Croissy is not intended to tell you about the ChĂąteau de Versailles, the Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny, the ChĂąteau de Malmaison (in Rueil Malmaison!) or Saint-Germain-en-Laye and its castle, in short, all the major historical and/or artistic sites that surround it, since there are many and rich sources of information about them.
On the other hand, it seems important to me that you know how to get there from your apartment, how long it takes to get there, what the days and hours of operation are. In short, all the practical information you may need.
Letâs do it! Letâs do it!
Adress
Place dâArmes
78000 Versailles
Tel.: +33 (0)1 30 83 78 00
Palace of Versailles
Go by car
Unless there is a special event (work, accident, etc. indicated by your GPS), use the D321, which allows you to cover the 9.3 km between your apartment and the ChĂąteau de Versailles in about 20 minutes.
To park
There are several paid car parks inside or outside the domain. Find out which one is best for you by following this link.
Opening days and hours Â
- of the castle
Open every day except Monday,
December 25 and January 1
Timetable: 9am - 5.30pm
Last admission: 5pm
Closing of the cash registers: 16h50
- gardens
Open every day, from 8am to 6pm
except exceptional weather (snow, strong windsâŠ)
- of the park
Open every day, from 8am to 6pm
except exceptional weather (snow, strong windsâŠ)
Pedestrian access by:
- the Grid of Honour (last access 5:30 pm)
- the Queenâs gate (last access 5:30 pm)
- the Sailorsâ gate (9:30 am - 5:30 pm, last access 5 pm)
- the Porte Saint Antoine (9h30 - 17h30, last access 17h)
- Vehicle access through the Queenâs gate (9:00 am - 4:50 pm)
A few tips
I strongly encourage you to consult the website of the ChĂąteau de Versailles before going there. This is in order to schedule your visit because some parts, such as the Domaine de Trianon for example, only open in the afternoon. So, depending on what you want to see, you will have to check that you will have access to it on the day you choose.
In addition, you will find on this very pleasant site, the programming of special events, such as "Les grandes eaux" or "Les jardins musicaux", advice on the best time for your visit in order to avoid as much as possible the busy periodsâŠ
Finally, the Palace of Versailles offers its official visit app, available in particular on the app store, do not hesitate to download it. "Completely free, this application for smartphones and tablets offers you the audioguide for visiting the museum and the interactive map of the domain. It can be used without an Internet connection".
Adress
Avenue du ChĂąteau de la Malmaison
92500 Rueil-Malmaison
Tel. : +33 (0)1 41 29 05 55
Malmaison Castle
Go by car
The fastest route from the apartment is via departmental roads 321 and 113. It will take you 11 minutes to walk the 4.6km that separates you from the ChĂąteau de la Malmaison.
To park
Free parking near the castle
Go by public transport
If you enjoy walking, you can go to the Bougival bridge, taking the rue des Ponts, which starts exactly opposite the building at 38 bd Fernand Hostachy and continue straight ahead to the Bougival bridge. When getting off the bridge towards the Georges Clémenceau quay, you can take the bus N°259 and stop at «Le Chùteau» (i.e. 6 stops in 7 mn with a bus stop every 12 mn). Finally, you will have 450m to go to Malmaison.
Opening days and hours Â
Last entry 45 min before closing time (30 min before closing for lunch)
Closed at 4:15 pm on December 24 and 31 (last entrance at 3:30 pm)
- From October 1st to March 31st:
Weekdays from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:15
Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:45
The park is open continuously from 10am to 6pm
- From April 1st to September 30th:
Weekdays from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:45
Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 18:15
The park is open continuously from 10am to 6.30pm
A few tips
Before visiting the Malmaison, go to the website to choose your program. Indeed, different activities are offered to the public and each one takes place at a specific day and time: visit with a speaker, family visit, adapted for children... you can choose the version that suits you best. It is preferable to book for certain activities so check in advance.
Finally, during the summer months, take the time to stroll through the magnificent park of the castle where you will discover many species of trees and flowers, some of which have been reintroduced, in the desire to remind the Empress Josephineâs passion!
And about Josephine and her illustrious husband, you may feel like me a great emotion when you enter the office that the emperor himself has regularly occupiedâŠ!
Adresse
Place Charles de Gaulle
78100 Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Tel.: +33 (0)1 39 10 13 00
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
A charming and very chic little town in the Yvelines, with about 40,000 inhabitants, Saint-Germain-en-Laye has the advantage of large cities in terms of its offer of beautiful shops, without the vast and impersonal aspect. You can easily spend a day there, mixing culture and shopping.
Easy to reach from your apartment, you will be there, depending on your mode of transport, in 11 minutes (by car) or about 25 minutes by public transport.
Culture: The gardens and the castle of the Domaine National (castle which houses the museum of national archaeology), the historic districts of St Germain, the departmental museum Maurice Denis⊠it is up to you to choose by discovering the must-see attractions on the cityâs site
Go by car
It takes about 11 minutes to get to St Germain-en-Laye via the D121. The city offers several paid car parks in the centre, often taken by storm, as this small town attracts so many people.
Go by public transport
Take bus D or E at the foot of the building, towards the Chatou Croissy + station, then the RER A from this station, direction St Germain-en-Laye and go to the terminus. When leaving the RER, you are just in front of the castle of St Germain.
A few tips
On sunny days, take the time to sit in the market square, at one of the many restaurant or cafĂ© terraces, and enjoy the cityâs very special atmosphere. The charm is immediate and we think weâll come back to it! In a little less accessible⊠I had the chance to be invited by my darling, to the Henri IV pavilion - one of the great hotel restaurants of St Germain. It has an incredible terrace, overlooking the entire valley and offers a breathtaking view of Paris. What an unforgettable evening I spent there!
Adress
3 Rue du Bac
78400 Chatou
Tel. : +33 (0)1 34 80 63 22
Fournaise Museum
In addition to the museumâs permanent collection, two temporary exhibitions are presented during the year on the Impressionist theme. The museum is housed in the Maison Fournaise, a famous restaurant that once welcomed impressionist painters and canoeists in the second half of the 19th century. Renoir immortalized these joyful moments in his world-famous painting "DĂ©jeuner des Canotiers" in 1881.
Go by car
It will take you 8 minutes by car. But if you have the courage and time, donât hesitate to walk along the banks of the Seine. Itâs extremely pretty and pleasant!
To park
Parking under the Chatou bridge for cars and coaches.
Go by public transport
You can take one of the 2 buses that pass at the foot of the building, towards Chatou Croissy station. Once at the station, the rest of the journey to Impressionist Island is easily done on foot in less than 10 minutes.
Opening days and hours
Wednesday to Friday from 10am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 6pm (5:30pm from January to March). Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 6pm.
Conference visit every Sunday at 3pm.
Groups are welcomed every day by reservation only.
Closed in April, November and December.
Adress
Pavillon dâaccueil - AccĂšs commun Ă la clinique de lâEurope
ChĂąteau de Monte-Cristo
78560 le Port-Marly
Tel.: +33 (0)1 39 16 49 49
The castle of Monte Cristo
Go by car
Preparing for your visitÂ
As the schedules are not the same according to the days of the week and the time of year, I invite you to discover them here.
Adress
16 Rue Yvan Tourgueneff
78380 Bougival
Tel. : +33 (0)1 45 77 87 12
Yvan Tourguenievâs dacha
Go by car
Opening days and hours
Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny
Go by car
To park
Free of charge
Car parking at the Musée des Impressionnismes - chemin du Roy
Car parking + prairie bus - chemin du Roy
Parking Monet Foundation - Square GĂ©rald and Florence Van Der Kemp - rue Claude Monet
Opening days and hours
Adress
84 rue Claude Monet
27620 Giverny
Tel.:+33(0)2 32 51 28 21
A few tips
Prepare your visit before you travel by visiting the website Fondation C. Monet and plan to spend at least half a day on site. Indeed, there is Monetâs residence of course, but also the gardens, the museum and the small village of Giverny which, in itself, is very pleasant to discover. Moreover, if the weather is radiant and the weather is mild, why not take advantage of the opportunity to have lunch on site, on the terrace of the restaurant "les nymphĂ©as" for example or even at the "Jardin des Plumes", a restaurant that received its first star in the Michelin guide in 2015.
