Exploring Castles in Paris: Your Insider's Guide

If you love history, you’ll adore Paris. And in many parts of the city, you can still see the traces left behind by the French Revolution. This isn’t the only period of note though – there are also plenty of relics from other eras to be found in Paris and its surrounding regions. The many castles dotted around the capital, for example, tell the story of France’s rulers, their glory years and their falls from grace. We’ve put together a list of the most famous ones for you here – and it begins not in Versailles as you might imagine, but right in the heart of Paris.

A medieval castle in the centre of Paris? Yes! As early as the end of the 10th century, French kings were already using the Conciergerie, right next to the Seine, as their residence. During the French Revolution, the fortress became a state prison for rebels, later ironically becoming the very place where the royal family itself was incarcerated: Marie Antoinette was held captive here until she was executed in 1793.

A self-guided tour through the Conciergerie using AR-enabled tablets brings the historic rooms of the Middle Ages and revolutionary period back to life, while exciting exhibitions will appeal to art and photography enthusiasts alike.

• 2 Bd du Palais, 75001 Paris
• Open 9:30am–6pm daily
• Admission: €13. Free for under 18s and EU citizens aged 18-25
• Métro: Cité

“L'État, c'est moi!” Louis XIV is said to have declared. “I am the State!” And any monarch who believes this of course needs to provide tangible proof of their authority, whether to impress allies or put enemies in their place. Under the Sun King’s rule, Château de Versailles just outside Paris became just that: a symbol of unlimited and unbridled power. And although the era of absolutism in France has long since gone, you’ll still be able to feel Louis’s legacy echoing down the ages with every step you take though the splendid Baroque Hall of Mirrors. It’s almost as if we might see the Sun King himself smiling down at us from one of the 357 enormous mirrors at any moment, waiting for us to stop and pay our respects to him.

Hundreds of the rooms in what is probably the most famous castle in France bear witness to the splendour of the former residence, and are also home to the Musée de l’Histoire de France’s impressive collection of paintings and sculptures.

The palace gardens are another delight to be savoured. Spanning 715 hectares, you can stroll through Baroque buildings, ornate fountains and geometrically designed gardens. The paths will also lead you to the Grand and Petit Trianon, two pleasure palaces that Marie Antoinette loved to retreat to and which have a completely different, more rural feel to them than Versailles itself.

• Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles
• Open Tue-Sun 9am–5:30pm, park and garden daily 8am–8pm
• A combi ticket for the castle and garden costs €32 for adults (€24 between November and March). Children and teenagers under 18 and EU citizens aged under 26 are free of charge
• Take RER C from the centre of Paris to the Gare de Versailles Château Rive Gauche stop. The journey takes about 30 minutes

The Palace of Versailles may well be a bucket-list destination, but it isn’t the only castle worth seeing! Paris and its environs are home to so many castles that it’s difficult to list them all – but here are our favourites.

The 40-kilometre journey from Paris to the enchanting Château de Chantilly is absolutely worth it, not least because it has been left in its original condition since 1871 and has a charm about it that will whisk you straight back in time.

The lavish castle and its surroundings were established by Henri d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale. The general, historian and art collector stipulated that after his death, everything should be bequeathed to the public, so it’s thanks to him that we’re still able to admire the original furniture and fully furnished royal apartments today.

Take some time to enjoy the impressive garden and beautifully laid out ponds surrounding the Renaissance-style castle. And make sure you also take a peek inside the Musée Condé, where you can admire magnificent works by Poussin, Ingres, Raphaël and many more. Then head to the large stable, which is still in use today, to wander around the fascinating horse museum. There’s also a miniature railway to ride through the park on – perfect for children of any age (and the young at heart!).

• Rue du Connétable, 60500 Chantilly
• Open Wed-Sun 10am–5pm (park is open until 6pm)
• Admission €18 for visitors over 25. Those aged 7–25 pay €14.50. Family ticket €50. Free entry for children under 7
• TER or RER D from the Gare du Nord to Chantilly-Gouvieux station. The journey takes about 25 minutes

Venture out to the Paris suburb of Vincennes, where you’ll find the imposing fortress of Château de Vincennes. Louis VII built this castle in around 1150 as a manor house, but the keep was not erected until the 14th century (at 52 metres, it's the tallest medieval fortification in Europe).

Incidentally, this castle also served as a prison for over 300 years. Many souls were imprisoned here, chief among them the Marquis de Sade. Known today for his disreputable books, he allegedly hid his manuscripts in the walls of the dungeon. Go ahead and take a closer look at his cell before admiring the towering Gothic Saint-Chapelle with its magnificent windows. Who knows what other secret treasures and tales you might come across here? A great base for exploring Vincennes is the nearby Aparthotel Adagio Paris Vincennes.

• Av. de Paris, 94300 Vincennes
• Open Jun–Sep 10am–6pm, Oct–May 10am–5pm
• Admission €13. Free for under 18s and EU citizens aged 18–25
• Métro: Château de Vincennes

Numerous streams and small lakes, green meadows and flower beds surround Château de Rambouillet, built in the 14th century with the aim of turning it into one of the most beautiful gardens in France. Make sure to enjoy a picnic in this picturesque spot before you pay a visit to the magnificent building itself.

Rambouillet is the only castle in France that has been inhabited continuously by princes, kings, emperors and presidents since the Hundred Years’ War, making it a truly royal palace. Its rooms are still elegantly furnished – keep an eye out for special features like the Rococo-style woodwork in the Assembly Apartment.

Marvel at some of the amazing artistic treasures in the castle grounds, such as the Chaumière aux Coquillages, a small cottage whose interior is completely decorated with shells. Next to it you can find the former dairy (La Laiterie de la Reine) and the Bergerie Nationale, the national sheep farm.

• 78120 Rambouillet
• Open Apr–Sep 10am-midday and 1pm–6pm, Oct–Mar 10am–midday and 1:30pm–5pm
• Admission €11. Free for under 18s and EU citizens aged between 18 and 25. Entry to the park is free
• Approx. 45 minutes by train on the N line from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Gare de Rambouillet, then a 15-minute walk

Château de Fontainebleau is situated about an hour from Paris in the picturesque little town of Fontainebleau. The Mercure Château Fontainebleau Demeures de Campagne is just a short walk away from the castle and the perfect base for exploring not only the château but also the vast forest of Fontainebleau.

From the 12th to the 19th centuries, the castle at Fontainebleau was home to all of France’s emperors and kings. So it’s no wonder that the magnificent rooms are bursting with history. Many of the rooms are just as Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie left them in 1868 following their extensive renovation projects. Feel as though you’ve been transported back to the Second Empire as you gaze in awe at the fully furnished halls and original furniture and jewels in the castle museum, and turn back time in the place where Napoleon I abdicated before his exile to Elba and the Sun King Louis XIV consolidated his absolute power. It’s not for nothing that Château de Fontainebleau has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981!

• 77300 Fontainebleau
• Open Apr–Sep 9:30am–6pm, Oct–March 9:30am–5pm
• Admission €14. Free for under 18s and EU citizens aged between 18 and 25. Entry to the extensive park surrounding the château is free for everyone
• Transilien line R from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon stop

If you’re planning to spend more time in France, think about travelling just that bit further from Paris to enjoy a magnificent route that has over 400 castles to explore. Follow in the footsteps of kings along the Loire, whose enchanting valley is home to former royal residences in its distinctive Burgundy, Centre-Val de Loire and Pays de la Loire regions. Start your journey in the wonderful city of Orléans, hometown of the legendary Joan of Arc.

An absolute must on your trip is the famous Château de Chambord, built as a hunting lodge by King Francis I. Also recommended is Château de Chenonceau, magically situated in the middle of the river. These two castles (and many others in the Loire) are ideal alternatives to Versailles.

Paris’s castles and their gardens are as thought-provoking as they are beautiful. Inspired by the historical intrigue contained in the walls of these castles? The French capital is home to a wide variety of museums that explore the history of France as well as countless historic buildings.