On the eastern outskirts of Paris, near the town of Vincennes, and beside the Bois de Vincennes, explore the former fortress and royal home known as The Château de Vincennes . The majority of its construction took place between 1361 and 1369, and from the 14th through 16th centuries, it served as the French Kings' favored palace, second only to the Palais de la Cité. Discover the fascinating past of this remarkable structure, which served as a prison before becoming a barracks and an arsenal during the Napoleonic era.
Highlights
- Visit the famous Château de Vincennes, and be fascinated by the all-white, classic medieval building that bears witness to its former status as a royal palace.
- Explore its lofty towers and dungeon, which served to fortify the castle during battles, and stroll around its historic hallways.
- Discover the well-preserved medieval keep, the tallest fortified tower in Europe at 52 meters, where King Henry V died and see where Fouquet , the Marquis de Sade, and Mirabeau were held.
- Experience the Gothic building's awe-inspiring external flamboyance and beautiful rose window at the Sainte Chapelle de Vincennes.
There is a Sainte Chapelle here too. It is the centrepiece of the courtyard of the castle. It's much simpler than Sainte Chapelle on L'Ile de la Cite but nevertheless it's very beautiful in quite a stark manner. Go up to the musicians gallery and check out the scraffiti incised into the stone rail. Bored nobles back in the day? It is a true castle - there's even a moat - and it is fortified with very serious walls! There is a classic donjon which you can explore from top to bottom and you can walk right round the covered walkway - there's graffiti both old and new there, including legitimate graffiti areas where you can leave your mark. Down the back of the central castle area are the Kings apartments which now provide temporary exhibition space. There was a military history exhibition there when I had visited and there had been a big antiques fair there the previous week, just being packed up. There were parties of excited school children who looked as though they were really enjoying their visit and I noted an extensive education centre and workshops in the middle courtyard. It is pretty clear that this is no simple tourist attraction but is a living and important part of the local community to this very day. It's a bit out of the way but easy to get to on the Metro and it's right in the middle of Vincennes with the Metro station just across the road. No need for a skip the line ticket. Versailles this ain't.
The Chateau Vincennes is located at the end of the Metro line. The entrance is only a hundred yards from the station exit. The Chateau was the residence and "office" of Charles V in the 14th century and is very well preserved. It remained the royal residence until Versailles was built by Louis XIV in the 17th century. Included in the complex are a Sainte-Chapelle modelled on the one in Paris Ile-de-la-Cite. The audio tour is excellent and the keep is especially fascinating with the security it provided for the monarch and his staff. You should allow about half a day to get there and tour the Castle. There are many shops and cafes immediately outside the entrance.
More than an impressive and well maintained medieval building, the Château de Vincennes served as a fort and has the largest fortified tower still preserved in France. In its interior is a chapel of XVI century, also of impressive proportions. The visit to the inner area is free. Access to the interior of the castle and the chapel is paid at a small fee.