Maintenon, Chartres, and Château de Vaux le Vicomte

Start your day at one of the best boulangeries in Rambouillet. They make sandwiches on request, using fresh ingredients and their delicious bread. The pastry products are also tasty and reasonably priced.
Le Fournil de Rambouillet is open every weekday between 7.30 am and 8.30 pm. On Saturdays, it's open from 8 am to 8.30 pm, and on Sundays between 8 am and 8 pm.

Maintenant Maintenon. I dare you to say that 5 times fast!
Located in the Centre-Loire Valley region, Maintenon is a city that dates all the way back to the Neolithic period, even though most people know about it in relation to 17th-century Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise of Maintenon.
Wander a bit on the streets before you make your way to the main attraction: Château de Maintenon.

Château de Maintenon dates back to the 1200s. It was most notable for being the private estate of Madame de Maintenon, King Louis XIV's somewhat secret second wife.
Madame de Maintenon's life is the stuff of fairy tales. Born Françoise d'Aubigné, she was first chosen as governess for the King and Madame de Montespan's illegitimate children. After several years of unwavering dedication to her profession, she gained the Sun King's attention which soon turned to affection. Their "secret wedding" was not so secret in reality: it became the talk of the Court, and the story even reached Pope Francis, who sent the pair bridal presents.
An architectural mash-up tinged with warm, rosy tones, the Château de Maintenon is unlike most other castles and palaces you've seen so far. With the ascendancy of Françoise d'Aubigné, the building also transformed to meet the needs of the King and the Royal Court.
As it's a less-known destination in the vicinity of Paris, you'll be happy to find it less crowded.
Tickets can be bought on the spot.
Château de Maintenon's opening times vary a lot over the year as follows:
• March: Open from Tuesday to Friday, between 2 pm and 6.30 pm, and on weekends between 10.30 am and 6.30 pm. • April - June: Open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10.30 am and 6.30 pm. • July - August: Open daily between 10.30 am and 6.30 pm. • September - October: Open from Tuesday to Friday, between 2 pm and 6.30 pm, and on weekends between 10.30 am and 6.30 pm. • November - February: Open from Tuesday to Friday, between 2 pm and 6 pm, and on weekends between 10.30 am and 6 pm.

Chartres is a lovely small town with a world-famous cathedral dominating its skyline.
Like many of Europe's medieval towns, Chartres grew as a cathedral-town. For hundreds of years, pilgrims have traveled to Chartres, and even nowadays the town is still centered around the Cathedral's plaza.
Given its historical significance, it's amazing to wander the streets and visit the beautiful Cathedral without avoiding crowds of tourists.

Before visiting the Our Lady of Chartres, time for a quick lunch at Terra, an Italian restaurant that made it into the Michelin guide. The imposing cathedral reopens at 2 pm, anyway.
Until then, you have plenty of time to enjoy their truffle pasta, seafood spaghetti, or some other treat from Terra's menu.
Terra is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 12 and 2 pm, and between 7 and 9.30 pm. On Wednesdays, it's open only in the evenings, between 7 and 9.30 pm. Closed on Mondays.
Book your table in advance: 02 37 84 81 47

Although the Chartres Cathedral may be only one of many churches in France, it's also one of the most beautiful. Two distinct spires set it out from the crowd, and the stained-glass windows, for the most part, date from the 1200s.
Our Lady of Chartres escaped World War II bombardment thanks to an American colonel who went behind enemy lines and discovered that the chapel was not occupied by the Germans, allowing his troops to come to the rescue.
The Chartres Cathedral, a cornerstone of French Gothic architecture, is also one of Europe's most important and best-preserved churches.
You can make a donation and book your ticket online here.
Our Lady of Chartres is open from Monday to Saturday between 10 am and 12.30 pm, then between 2 and 7.30 pm. On Sundays, the cathedral is open for tourists only between 2 and 7.30 pm.

The Château de Vaux le Vicomte and its gardens heavily influenced those of Versailles... because King Louis XIV stole the architects after imprisoning the castle's owner, Nicolas Fouquet.
In the late summer of 1661, Nicolas Fouquet gave a spectacular soiree in honor of Louis XIV at his new chateau, Vaux-le-Vicomte. The king strolled through the gardens, dined, and watched a theater performance followed by fireworks without saying anything. Voltaire, the renowned poet, would later write of this turn of events, On August 17, at six in the evening Fouquet was King of France, at two in the morning, he was nobody.
Despite his amazement with the palace, the Sun King decided to punish Nicolas Fouquet for embezzlement, although he was innocent, and there was another at fault. And even though he was sentenced to exile at the end of his trial, King Louis XIV intervened to have him imprisoned for life. This was the only occasion in French history that a Monarch made use of his pardoning power to aggravate the penalty.
While Versailles is greater and more sumptuous as a result of Louis' impulsive move, it definitely loses points because of the crowds of tourists.
You can book your ticket in advance here. It provides access to the castle and its gardens.
The estate of Château de Vaux le Vicomte is open daily between 11 am and 7 pm (last access 5.30 pm), except for Fridays and Saturdays when it is open between 2 and midnight (last access 10.30 pm).

Le Vicomte offers traditional French cuisine through a simple menu. Their ingredients are always fresh and all the copious dishes are homemade in a friendly, familial atmosphere.
The restaurant is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 12 and 2 pm, then between 5.30 and 9 pm. On Monday, it's open only for lunch, between 12 and 2 pm. Closed on Sundays.
Book your table in advance: 01 60 68 51 89

After yet another delicious meal, enjoy the tranquility of the French countryside while you rest at the Ferme d'Orsonville, a former granary.