Blandy les Tours



If you are taking a day trip from Paris to Vaux le Vicomte then adding on a side trip to Blandy les Tours is a nice addition to the day.

Blandy les Tours is a medieval castle set in the middle of a small village. The castle was built in the 14th Century and upgraded in the 16th Century. It was extensively restored in the in 1992.

What to see

The main thing to see at Blandy les Tours is the castle/chateau which stands in the middle of the town.

The chatau is a traditional defensive castle built in a circular format with a drawbridge and portcullis at the entrance.

As the name suggests, the castle is famous for the number of towers (tours being the French for towers). While the castle is small, there are six distinct towers.
  • the square tower - the former gatehouse (la tour carrée)
  • the moral tower (la tour morale)
  • the tower of justice (la tour de la justice)
  • the tower of the archives (la tour des archives)
  • the keep (la donjon)
  • the tower of the guards (la tour des gardes)

There is the possibility to explore some of the turrets, walk the ramparts and also explore the basement of the castle.

The castle is in the middle of the town. On one side of the castle is a number of cafes and bistros. They are a nice space to have an aperitif or something to eat while you wait for the bus back to Melun.

Things to do
  • Walk the ramparts
  • Explore the basements and the towers
  • Take a drink in the shadow of the castle.

How to get there

Blandy les Tours can be reached by bus from Vaux le Vicomte from April - early November. To get to Vaux le Vicomte the first step is to get to Melun. This can be done by either taking the RER D (Green) line from any stop within Paris (major stops are Gare du Nord, Chatelet, and Gare de Lyon) or a regional train from Gare de Lyon. The regional train is quicker as it has fewer stops and is probably the preferable option.

When you arrive in Melun there are three options for getting to the chateau.

The easiest is a taxi. The ride is 6km from Melun to Vaux le Vicomte. Blandy les Tours is another 5km from Vaux le Vicomte.

From mid-April to early-November there is a shuttle bus that is timed to leave from Melun train station (opposite cafe de la gare) 15 minutes after the arrival of the train from Gare de Lyon (not the RER). The bus costs 7 Euro for a round trip and also includes Blandy les tours as a stop meaning you can visit both on the same day on the same ticket. Be aware of the timetable of the bus and that the last bus leaving Blandy les tours is 18h55.
The details for a day trip from Paris to Blandy les Tours

Approximate Distance from Paris: 50km/31mi - 5km from Vaux le Vicomte.
Time to get there: about 30 minutes to Melun from Paris then it depends on the onward transport you choose (see below).
Transport Method: RER D line or TER train line from Gare de Lyon to Melun then either bus, shuttle, taxi, or walk. 
Approximate Price: Entrance to the chateau is 6 Euro per person, 7,80 for the train.
Worth: 1 - 2 hours.  

Website: www.seine-et-marne.fr/blandy-les-tours    
                                               (available only in French)