christinetO4864YO, Dec 2024

EXCEPTIONAL experience! Great food, service -- the VIEWS and the tour and grounds BEAT Versailles ALL DAY LONG. NOT TO BE MISSED. The audio tour was AMAZING -- in 3D and was THE BEST!!

elenarX7859HY, Dec 2024

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.

Christina_C, Dec 2024

The evening was perfect and created memories that will last a lifetime! From the moment our courteous driver picked us up, we were treated very much like royalty. We enjoyed driving about the garden in the golf cart and were greeted by Luce at the castle - she was so charming and helpful. When she dropped us off personally at the dinner location, we were delighted by the lighted horse show, which accompanied a most delicious meal. From there, our driver dropped us back at the hotel, where we reminisced on what an extraordinary evening it was. Thank you for such an experience!

DianeE_G, Dec 2024

Our driver was gracious and the ride was comfortable and relaxing. The Golf Cart ride through the Gardens was lovely the Chateau tour was beautiful and informative Erik, our guide, was delightful. The dining experience was delicious and... best of all... the evening candle-lit views of the Chateau and grounds were perfect. Thank you Viator Team. It was the perfect, memorable and romantic evening. Everything I had hoped it would be.

Mary S, Dec 2024

Chateau trip had a few problems car showed up thinking they were picking up 2 vs 5 persons. This caused us to wait in 95 degree heat while the limo company scrambled to find us a larger vehicle. Kudos to the first limo driver as he was delightful and stayed with us until other car arrived. Unfortunately, this caused us to be an hour late to the Chateau which meant we had less than 45 min to tour the house. Dinner was excellent and fireworks were beautiful but VERY short-lived e.g. less than 7 min.