Choisel, off the D906,
Haute Vallée de Chevreuse
Paris
France
01 30 52 05 02
Type: Historical Interest
Addmission Fee: Costs Euro 6.80, Euro 5.40 for sd kids and also allows you into the château kitchens
Hours: Entrance to the grounds only (open daily from 10am)
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Set in the middle of farmlands four miles south of Chevreuse, the château is the isolated but charming estate of the aristocratic Breteuil family, who served the Kings of France as military officers, ambassadors and ministers throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Built during the reign of Henri IV in the early 1600s, the Breteuil has hosted many prestigious guests, including the Empress Maria-Teresa, Gambetta, King Edward VII of England, and Marcel Proust.
The château, empty for much of the 20th century, was renovated in the late 1960s by its current owner, the 10th Marquis de Breteuil. If you only visit one château in the region, this should be it. The décor is heavily influenced by Versailles, with waxwork characters recreating historical scenes in each room. Although this can feel a bit Disney-ish, it’s well-done and gives the château a unique lived-in feel, as if the daily life was frozen at some point in the 18th century. The château can only be visited with the guide, in French, but there’s an English brochure available on request.
Visits start at 2:30pm (every 15 minutes), with the last tour at 5:30pm. Entrance for the château and grounds costs Euro 9.90, Euro 7.90 for students and kids. There are 200 acres of parkland and formal gardens dotted with stables, carriage buildings and even a medieval pigeon tower. These are also brought to life by waxwork figures, including scenes from Charles Perrault’s fairy tales (you’ll recognize Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots and Red Riding Hood, among others).
In addition to the formal hedges, rose gardens, fountains and labyrinth, there are also children’s playgrounds and picnic areas, quiet forest paths, and even a family of goats grazing in the grassy moat. Entrance to the grounds only (open daily from 10am) costs Euro 6.80, Euro 5.40 for students and kids and also allows you into the château kitchens, where you can read what was on the menu for King Edward VII of England’s visit in 1905.
Plan on spending at least a half-day or longer at the château to see everything. Acrêpe stand is open in the picnic area on Sundays from April through October. Pack a lunch if you come on any other day, since there are no cafés or shops nearby.
Last updated January 11, 2008