France is famous for its châteaux, and you don’t have to travel far from Paris to experience some truly spectacular ones. If you’re looking to escape the bustle of the city for a day, these nearby castles offer the perfect chance to soak up a bit of French countryside charm. You'll discover leafy parks, grand architecture, and centuries of fascinating history. Here are five of our favourite châteaux, all less than an hour from Paris, and each one well worth the trip.
Château de Vincennes
📍10 minute metro ride from central Paris on Line 1.
Vincennes is the largest and best preserved medieval fortress in France, home to French royalty from the 12th to the 17th centuries, prison of the Marquis de Sade and Nicolas Fouquet (see his story below) and military arsenal to Napoleon. It also has a moat, a Sainte-Chapelle and France’s tallest medieval donjon. A great visit with kids!
Set in almost 2500 acres of park and woodland, you’ll find lakes and a beautiful floral garden in the Parc de Vincennes surrounding the château. It’s the perfect place for a picnic, buy your provisions in the lovely town of Vincennes. There’s a great food market, the Marché Carnot, just by the château on Saturday mornings.
(And yes Anya, our mascotte, loves walks in the park at the Chateau de Vincennes!)
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
📍30 minutes on the train from Gare de Lyon then a shuttle bus or taxi from Melun station.
After being invited to a party there in 1661 - think food served on gold and silver plates for hundreds of guests, fireworks, a ballet and light shows - King Louis XIV was so jealous of the elegance and riches of Vaux-le-Vicomte that he arrested the owner, Nicolas Fouquet, his Superintendent of Finances at the time, threw him in prison, and ''borrowed' the architect, interior designer and landscape gardener to build Versailles for him.
Of course, there were political motives too… but that jaw-dropping display of wealth and taste likely tipped the scales!
For a really special experience, we recommend going on a Saturday evening from the end of May through September. The castle is lit inside and out by 2000 candles and dinner is served on the terrace with fireworks afterwards. It will give you a taste of that famous party of 1661!
Château de Versailles
📍35 minutes on suburban train RER C from central Paris to Versailles Château, then a 10 minute walk to the palace.
If you want to see what Louis XIV - the Sun King - had built for himself by those architects and designers he took from Vaux-le-Vicomte, you won’t be disappointed! Architect Louis Le Vau, painter-decorator Charles Le Brun and garden designer Andre Le Notre built him one of the most splendid palaces in Europe. Spend a full day and don’t miss the lovely private domain of Marie-Antoinette, it will give you a greater understanding of the glory of the French monarchy and their eventual demise at the French revolution.
Better still, take one of our guided tours and have the fascinating lives of the French royals and their courtiers at Versailles brought to life for you! On weekends from April through October, and Tuesdays in May and June, you’ll be able to see the beautiful fountain show, with glorious fountain displays set to music, just as they were in the times of the Kings. Many of the best ones are hidden inside groves in the gardens, and they are all switched on and off at different times. Your guide will make sure you’re in exactly the right spot at the right time!
Château de Fontainebleau
📍40 minutes on the train from the Gare de Lyon then take the bus Line 1 from Fontainebleau-Avon station to the town.
Home to Kings, Queens and an Emperor, Fontainebleau bears witness to them all with its exquisitely decorated rooms, fine furnishings and paintings. Used as a royal residence for over 700 years, renovations were carried out by every king that lived there. King François I brought some of the finest Italian artists of the Renaissance to decorate his palace, and Andre Le Notre (yes, the garden designer at Versailles) landscaped the gardens.
Napoleon Bonaparte called Fontainebleau ’The true home of kings’, making it one of his primary imperial residences. He even held a pope prisoner here! And he said his final goodbyes in the courtyard to his General and sobbing soldiers before being exiled on Elba.
While you're in Fontainbleau, don't miss the pretty town. There's a wonderful farmer's market on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 8am - 3pm on the Place du Marché in the town centre. Another great opportunity for a picnic in the park!
Or how about the nearby forest? You can join our theatrical tour led by a mysterious cloaked character, who will tell you the stories and legends of these ancient and magical woodlands.
Château de Chantilly
📍25 minutes on the train or 45 minutes on RER line D from the Gare du Nord to Chantilly-Gouvieux
Andre Le Notre, once again, designed the sublime gardens at Chantilly, which contain the charming Hameau, inspiration for Marie-Antoinette’s lovely Hamlet (her own personal village) in her private domain at Versailles. The art gallery in the chateau, the Musée Condé, has one of the finest collections of paintings in France outside the Louvre, and the magnificent stables put on an array of wonderful events (apparently one of the owners of the castle, Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon and Prince of Condé, believed he would be reincarnated as a horse!)
Château de Malmaison
📍50 minutes on suburban train RER A from central Paris to Rueil Malmaison, or get off the RER at La Defense and take bus 258.
Country home of Napoleon Bonaparte and his beloved wife Josephine, Malmaison gives a fascinating glimpse into the personal life of the General and Emperor. Its luxurious rooms are richly decorated and furnished as they would have been at the time.
You can also see Josephine’s famous gardens, where she collected more than 250 varieties of rose and grew over 200 plants for the first time in France in her test garden. She is present everywhere at Malmaison and her love affair with Napoleon is a fascinating story. Malmaison is a tranquil haven and a compelling glimpse into the private lives of this legendary couple.
Château de Maintenon
📍50 minutes on the train from Gare Montparnasse then an easy 15 minute walk
This lovely and little known castle once belonged to Madame de Maintenon, mistress to King Louis XIV, who bought it in 1675 (construction began in the 13th century). She married Louis XIV in a secret ceremony around 1686 and was not able to spend much time here, despite her love of the beauty of the chateau and gardens (once again the work of Le Notre) as Louis needed her more and more in Versailles.
Speaking of Versailles, don’t miss the impressive aqueduct, built in 1685 to divert water from the nearby Eure river to power the fountains at Versailles - 80km away! The project was too expensive and was never finished.
Each of these châteaux offers something unique—from royal splendour to personal retreats, from military power to romantic grandeur. Together, they paint a vivid picture of France’s rich history and the remarkable figures who shaped it. Best of all, they’re all within easy reach of Paris—so why not add a little castle magic to your stay?
Thank you!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our blog! We are a small Paris-based tour guide company that prioritises a boutique personal experience where we can share our passion for our heritage and community with every individual that joins us. If you'd like to take a tour then head over to our website for an unforgettable trip to the city of lights. Also, check out our social media @memories.france for everything you could need to know for coming to Paris - from how to use the metro to coffee shops closest to each major monument - there is something for everyone!
Siobhan & the Memories France Family
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