Château de Vincennes

The Château de Vincennes, the only fortified structure in the greater Paris area, is both a marvel of medieval architecture and a symbol of French history. Built in the 12th century so that Louis VII could hunt in the Bois de Vincennes, it was later transformed into a full royal residence by Charles V in the 14th century. The king surrounded it with a wall and had a keep built standing 52 meters tall, which would later become a state prison. The fortress protected the kings, remaining their main residence until 1682. At that time, despite the construction of classical-style royal pavilions, Louis XIV came to prefer Versailles. In the 19th century, Napoleon added towers and casemates for military purposes: the castle's fortress served as barracks and an arsenal to protect the French capital. Occupied from 1940 by the German army, which damaged it in 1944, the château has undergone major restoration work. Today it also houses the headquarters of the Service Historique de la Défense (Defense Historical Service), whose libraries and archives are open to the public.

Highlights

The Keep

The keep is the tallest in Europe and offers an exceptional view over the city of Paris. Built by Charles V to house his art collection and manuscripts, Louis XI began using it in the early 15th century to lock away his most notable prisoners. A state prison from the 16th to the 19th century, it once held Nicolas Fouquet, Diderot, the Marquis de Sade, and Mirabeau.

The Curtain Wall

The 1,200-meter rectangular wall is made up of 9 towers roughly forty meters tall and ten sections of curtain wall. It was designed to protect the structures already standing there. Along with the keep, its construction between 1373 and 1380 required the largest building site in Europe.

The Sainte-Chapelle

The Sainte-Chapelle has stood since 1379. The building blends Gothic and Renaissance influences. Its nave reflects the introduction of the Gothic style into royal architecture at the end of the 14th century. Built to house certain relics of the Passion, it has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1853. It features choir stained-glass windows by master glassmaker Nicolas Beaurain, dating from the mid-16th century.

Nearby

Bois de Vincennes At 995 hectares, the Bois de Vincennes is the largest green space in Paris, well ahead... 21 min à pied

Père Lachaise Cemetery At first glance, visiting a cemetery might seem like an odd idea, but Père-Lachaise is... 45 min à pied

Bercy Village Facing the François Mitterrand Library and close to the Cinémathèque, Bercy Village is... 46 min à pied

Coulée verte René-Dumont Originally known as the "Promenade Plantée," the Coulée Verte René-Dumont is a park... 54 min à pied