Who doesn't love castles ? I sure do ! It makes me feel like I'm in a fairy-tale whenever I visit a castle !
These are only a couple of the castles in France that are close enough to be day-trips from Paris.
One thing you should know, château is the French word for castle, so if you see château, I mean castle. Since I live in France, my brain says the French word more than the English word. 1. Versailles
Versailles is about 45 minutes from Paris. Versailles was originally a hunting lodge built by Louis XIII in 1623 and became the beautiful castle we see today by the Sun King, Louis XIV. Louis XIV moved his residence from the Louvre (yes the museum in Paris was once a castle and home to the kings of France) to the Palace of Versailles in 1682. So from 1682 until the French Revolution in 1789, the capital of France was not Paris, but Versailles. If you have time, go to the Petit Hamau, the Little Hamlet. This "play" farm was made for Marie Antoinette so she could play farmer. Kind of like when you're little and play house and you play the mom or dad, Marie Antoinette did this, but with a whole farm and real animals.
And in case you forgot your French history, Marie Antoinette was married to Louis XVI and were both beheaded after trying to escape France. She's the one who apparently said "Let them eat brioche" or as we say in English "Let them eat cake."
If you're tired, and trust me, you will be, bring a picnic and a blanket and enjoy the gardens.
As you can tell from my photos, I was lucky and went to Versailles in between Covid lockdowns when the borders were still closed, thus my empty photos.
2. Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is about an hour from Paris. This is a medieval castle and one of the largest royal castles in France ! Francis I and Napoleon had the most influence on this castle and you will notice there are "F"s everywhere, along with the bee which is a symbol of Napoleon. Like Versailles, Fontainebleau was first a hunting lodge. The horseshoe shaped stairwell in front of Fontainebleau in the front of the castle was originally built for Henry II in the 16th century.
3. Château Chantilly
This castle is around 50 minutes north of Paris. When I visited, it was a nice day, so I decided to stay outside and explore the gardens instead of entering the castle. I also have the privilege of living 50 minutes away and can go back whenever I please. So, if you are just visiting and don't live here, go inside the castle.
. There is a French movie called Vatel that tells the true story of the chef, François Vatel, who committed suicide at Château Chantilly because he feared the fish dinner would be served late for the king. Chantilly is the French word for whipped cream, so don't forget to get some chantilly desserts while you're in Chantilly !
4. Château Vincennes
Hop on the line 1 metro and go to Château Vincennes. It is located on the eastern part of Paris, the north part of the Bois de Vincennes and is easy to get to ! This medieval castle was built in the 14th/15th century by Charles V of France.
The cathedral is beautiful and you can climb the donjon.
5. Château Chambord
This castle is the farthest from Paris, at a little over 2 hours. There is a French movie called Peau d'Âne (donkey skin) that takes place in part at this castle. It is a bizarre movie where the queen dies and the king wants to remarry the most beautiful woman, which happens to be his daughter. This is a beautiful castle that features a double staircase. 6. Pierrefonds
An hour and a half northeast of Paris. Built between 1393 and 1407 by Louis I. It has characteristics of defensive military architecture typical of the Middle Ages.
7. Château de la Reine Blanche
This castle is very close to Chantilly. You can't go in the castle, but there is a restaurant on the lake next to the castle.
Definitely worth a detour.
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