Waterside weekend in Melun – Val de Seine

Day 1

Make no mistake, when you arrive in Melun, and particularly when you cross the bridges coming from the station to get to the town centre, you’ll discover an unexpected atmosphere, that of an emblematic square offering a completely different face. A city where life is good.

You arrive at Place Saint-Jean and its fountain. Not far from there is the pedestrian and shopping district, the tourist office and the famous Gaillardon market (held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings).

The day starts with a nice bike ride to the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. After getting a map from the Tourist Office, you can set off on a 9 km circuit (there are several bike hire companies in Melun, see below). You can also take the “château bus” shuttle bus from Melun to the château, booking required here.

If you decide to set off by bike, make sure you stop off at the village of Maincy, which has been awarded the “Village de Caractère” label for the charm of its streets and alleys criss-crossed by water. Visit the church of Saint Etienne and the Maison des Carmes, where the tapestry workshops were set up by Fouquet (these same workshops were transferred to Paris and became the Gobelins manufactory). Continue on to the bridge at Trois Moulins to admire the view over the Brie countryside, which is crossed by the aptly-named Ancœur river.

Once you arrive at the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, it’s easy to fall in love with one of the most beautiful private residences in France, and the inspiration for the Château de Versailles.

You’ll marvel at everything, from the interior of the château to the gardens and its parterres, both French and contemporary.

At the far end you can see the statue of Hercules. If that seems a long way off, hire a buggy and drive around to find your favourite view of the estate! (New from July 2025, you can sit in the hollow of a tree and listen to spellbinding fables).

Talking of meals, it’s time for lunch, why not at the Relais de L’Ecureuil, one of the château’s restaurants, or take a picnic in one of the two picnic areas set out in the park (remember to buy what you need for a picnic at the Melun market on Saturday mornings, not far from Place Saint-Jean in the town centre, where many local producers are present).

After lunch, you must visit the château and why not climb up into the dome and admire the view of the gardens designed by Le Notre and the surrounding countryside, not forgetting a visit to the carriage museum.

Throughout the year, the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte offers events such as the Candlelight Tour from May to September, a unique tour of the château and its gardens illuminated by 2,000 candles, the “Grand Century Day” at the end of May when you can come in costume, and finally the “Grand Christmas” from November to January, when the château is decorated for the occasion – an unforgettable fairytale experience! Don’t forget to combine these events with your next visit to the region!

After this wonderful afternoon, it’s time to head back to Melun. If you don’t leave too late, you can choose between two must-see sites: the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire or the Musée de la Gendarmerie Nationale. If you prefer to stroll in the shade of the trees and relax with a good book, head for the Parc Debreuil or the Parc Faucigny-Lucinge on the banks of the Seine.

To end the day on a gourmet note, take a stroll through Melun’s pedestrian zone, where you’ll find the Deslis chocolate shop in rue des Boissettes, with its specialities made from Nemours poppies and the famous sucres d’orges (barley sweets), the recipe for which was devised by nuns. Melun also has its own Brie cheese, which you can find at the market on Saturday mornings or in one of Melun’s cheese dairies, such as Fromages & Cie on rue Carnot. Great ideas for gourmet souvenirs from Seine-et-Marne!

For dinner, the “Bodega” restaurant in Melun will introduce you to Spanish-influenced cuisine, while the summery“La Piscine” restaurant in Melun offers Mediterranean-style cuisine. And for more bistronomic cuisine, book into the Bistro de la Grande Maison in Le Mée-sur-Seine, run by chef Eddy Creuzé, a former Michelin-starred chef.

At night, it’s a change of scenery on the water’s edge that’s on offer, and you’ll be charmed by the floating accommodation offered by “Escale Royale” in Saint-Fargeau-Ponthierry, with its private rooftop, whirlpool bath and 360° view over the Seine, it’s a unique experience that awaits you. In Pringy, you can spend a pleasant night in a chalet at “L’étape Paris/Fontainebleau”.

Day 2

After a gentle rise and a good breakfast, get ready for a relaxing day with “Hisséo”.

In fact, “Hisséo” offers electric boat hire from Melun, a river trip that allows you to discover the Seine and its banks. You don’t need a navigation licence to take control of a boat, a briefing on safety and driving will be given to you before you set off.

You’re sure to pass one of these 19th-century holiday villas, known as “Affolantes”, each more atypical than the next, or catch a glimpse of the flora and fauna that can only be seen from a boat ….

You can book trips of between 1 hour and 5 hours (return), and if you haven’t planned lunch, Hisséo offers optional packed lunches as well as planchas and barbecue boats.

The Melun Val de Seine tourist office also organises themed cruises every year – check out their website for more information.

After this refreshing afternoon, take a stroll through Melun’s pedestrian zone and, for a relaxing end to the weekend, stop off at Boissise-la-Bertrand before setting off again. An original brasserie awaits you, nestling in the heart of a cave!