Castles near Paris

#1

Château de Fontainebleau is just 55 kilometres from the center of Paris. This massive palace has over 1500 rooms sprawled out on 130 acres of gardens and parks. It's one of the largest royal French châteaux to have ever been built. Fontainebleau was much loved by Napoléon Bonaparte, who oversaw a lot of the restoration work. Napoléon III was another regular visitor, but as an example of the changes it has seen, during WWII the château was a headquarter for occupying Germans. It's now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

#2

Horses, castles, forest walks and picnic spots – the perfect day out from Paris

#3

The Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is a Baroque French château located 55 kilometers southeast of Paris. The château's ornate architecture and impressive manicured gardens are said to have been the inspiration for the construction of the more famous Palace of Versailles.

#4

At various times in its history, the Château de Vincennes has been a royal residence, a porcelain factory, a prison and a burial site. Its location was designed to allow the monarchy to keep a watchful eye over Paris. Now, with a metro stop named after it, it's a part of the French capital. Highlights include the highest fortified tower in Europe and the beautiful Gothic Sainte-Chapelle de Vincennes.

#5

Château de Pierrefonds is a magnificent castle designed and rebuilt in a medieval style by Napoleon III and his architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. It is located Pierrefonds, France, not too far by car from Paris.

#6

Château de Rambouillet is a beautiful home and former retreat for presidents, kings and VIPs in the town of Rambouillet, in the Île-de-France region of northern France. A visit here is a step back in time to see how some of the greatest men (and women) in history lived.

#7

The Château de Champs-sur-Marne is an 18th-century château roughly 25 kilometers east of Paris. The château boasts an 85-hectare garden and rococo style decor. It can be accessed by public transport with a journey time of roughly 40 minutes from Paris.