Anne-Charlotte PasseraKids love to visit castles and there are plenty to discover just around Paris.
It is estimated that there are around 45,000 castles in France. A lot of them are now in ruins but 6,500 of them are listed as historical monuments. In fact, France is one of the countries with the most castles, but lest not forget Scotland and Germany who are also beautiful places to travel to visit castles.
As the castles in France are ever so popular, consider booking your tickets online beforehand and spare you the trouble of having to wait in line.
Here is our list of 7 castles around Paris that you can easily visit with kids on a day trip.
Le Château de Versailles
Versailles is one of France’s most popular castles. It’s easy to get to from Paris by using the RER C (Paris public transit system to the suburbs) and takes less than 1 hour to do so. Then, you’ll have to walk about 15 minutes from the train stop to the castle.
The town of Versailles is also interesting architecturally speaking as it retains its old charm. However, it’s a relatively non happening town. Before hopping on a train on your way back to Paris, stop in one of the many crêperies along the way and devour a crêpe with the topping of your choosing.
The gardens
You have to pay to visit the gardens on weekends and that’s when the fountains are functioning. Versailles lost a lot of century old trees in a vicious storm that hit France at the end of 1999. Nonetheless, the gardens retain their majestic splendour.
It’s also possible to rent bicycles to visit the gardens which makes it easier to visit if you don’t have all day. The grounds are a great place to have a family picnic and you can also rent some boats to paddle on one of the huge ponds.
There is also an outdoor light show that occur during the Summer months in the evening which could make for a great way to end a perfect day.
Le Hameau de la Reine
A part from the actual castle to visit which might be kinda boring for the kids, there is the Hameau de la Reine worth walking to. Located somewhere in the gardens, as it is fairly hidden, lies what I like to refer to as Snow White’s house.
The Queen (Marie-Antoinette) wanted a place to connect back to nature with, away from all the ornate and luxurious decorations of the King Louis XVI‘s castle. This traditional country home, composed of twelve half-timbered thatched cottages of Norman inspiration, and its own vegetable garden and farm will surely rise some interesting questions from your little ones. It is in stark contrast with the main palace.
Stable and Coaches
On the opposite side of the castle’s main gates, you will find the King’s stables and ornate coaches. If you have time to spare, this could make an interesting visit with your kids.
Château de Sceaux
The castle of Sceaux and its park is a place where I spent a lot of time when I was growing up and when Junior was little. My grand-mother and then Jacky used to live close by and we went there often.
Fun fact: Madonna held a concert on the castle’s grounds back in the late 80s!
Located about 30 minutes away from the center of Paris, it’s really easy to get to with RER B. You can either get off at Bourg-la-Reine or Parc de Sceaux. Either way, you’ll have to walk from the train station. However, that area is filled with gorgeous stone houses that will make you consider moving there. Of all the castles around Paris, this is the easiest one to visit with kids.
The grounds
The castle itself is not worth visiting and is really small. The grounds are huge with tons of places ready to accommodate you for a game of football or frisbee.
During the Summer months, you can catch sheep grazing the grounds!
The town of Sceaux
The town of Sceaux is also worth a pit stop. It has a great pedestrian street with delicious bakeries and ice cream shops. There is also a huge playground that the kids will love running around in.
If you travel through the town of Bourg-la-Reine on Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday, check out their outdoor and highly entertaining outdoor market. Don’t go there hungry though as you’ll probably want to buy everything that you see and smell!
Château de Fontainebleau
The Château de Fontainebleau was considered the Royal Castle. It was home to 34 Kings of France and 2 Emperors, from François 1er to Napoléon III.
What is remarkable about this castle is that each King preserved its heritage while adapting it to their needs. It’s no wonder that you will notice a diversified style of architecture through Medieval to Classical styles with a touch of Renaissance.
Access
Fontainebleau is located 60km South-East of Paris. You can hop on a train from Gare de Lyon, direction Montargis-Montereau or Laroche-Mégennes, and get off at Fontainebleau-Avon. Then, take Bus 1 towards Les Lilas and get off at the stop Château.
You can visit the castle for FREE every first Sunday of the month between September and June. Access to the castle’s grounds is FREE all year long.
Strollers are not allowed inside the castle, but you can check it in at the entrance for FREE.
Activities
Aside from the castle, you can stroll around the 321 acres and enjoy one of the biggest flower beds of Europe designed by the same landscape designer in Versailles and Vaux-le-Vicomte.
The forest of Fontainebleau adjoins the huge castle grounds and is wroth exploring. Your kids will especially enjoy the big boulders scattered around the forest. Furthermore, if you want a more authentic and less crowded experience, take a 4.5 km hike on the sentier Denecourt-Colinet (blue). From it, you’ll be able to get a beautiful view of the forest and the city of Fontainebleau.
Vaux-le-Vicomte
Even though this 17th century castle is gorgeous, I personally feel like the grounds are a little bare. At least, that was my impression when I visited it in the 20th century.
Vaux-le-Vicomte was built by the superintendent of finance of Louis XIV, Nicolas Fouquet, before Versailles. This castle inspired the whole of Europe in terms of garden designs. In fact, Louis XIV used the same architect and landscape designer that Fouquet used to design his own castle, Versailles.
Access
Vaux-le-Vicomte is located 50 minutes South of Paris. It is accessible by using the Train on the Line P from the Gare de l’Est direction Provins. You’ll have to get off at the station Verneuil l’Etang and is a 35-minute train ride. Upon arrival, hop on the shuttle to the castle (Châteaubus). It leaves on the hour and the stop is located in front of the station.
You can also access the castle by car and FREE parking is provided.
Please note that strollers are not allowed inside the castle.
Activities
There are plenty of things you can do with kids at Vaux-le-Vicomte that won’t bore them to death.
You and your kids (ages 3 and up) can rent costumes and visit the castle all dressed up. Also, the castle can provide a guide tour for your kids while they pretend to be kids of the 17th century in castle attire. This activity if for kids between the ages of 6 to 10 years old.
On the grounds, a treasure hunt has been organized and you can also download an activity booklet to do with kids while there.
If you are more adventurous and want to explore something more off the beaten path, there is an underground river on the castle’s grounds. The minimum height required is 1,30m and the minimum shoe size is 33. Read HERE for more information about this activity.
Another activity worth mentioning is the nocturnal visits. Every Saturday night, starting at 7 pm, the lights are dimmed inside the castle and candles are lit throughout the gardens. Around 11pm a 5-minute firework show is thrown, which will surely leave you with a beautiful long-lasting impression of this castle. However, consider renting a car should you choose to do that activity or staying overnight nearby.
Château de Breteuil
Out of all the castles I had a chance to visit around Paris when I was a little girl, this was by far my favorite and you should take your kids there if you can. It’s a wonderful and magical place to go to with kids.
The visit
Built at the beginning of the 17th century, it has always remained with the family. Visiting the castle as a child is fun as life-size wax figures have been put on display in each room showing daily life inside the castle. Some of those wax figures might be recognizable: Marie-Antoinette and Louis XIV, for example.
Charles Perreault (the author of well-known Fairy Tales) also plays an integral part in what makes this castle so fun to visit with kids. As you walk through the castle you will spot 15 automatons of Puss in Boots. In the music room, there is even a Puss in Boots orchestra that will play you a tune.
So what does have Charles have to do with anything?
Not only an author, he was also in charge of transferring funds to the Royal Treasury which was managed by Louis de Breteuil. Yes, they were buddies!
Therefore, throughout the outbuildings, references are made to some of Perreault’s fairy tales with the use of wax figures of some of his most popular characters.
Notably, children will be able to spot Little Red Riding Hood in the doll house and Blue Beard in the hunting lodge.
Of course, storytelling is part of the castle’s daily life and made available to children at 4:30 pm on Sundays, public holidays and during vacations for schools in the Paris region.
Access
It’s located in the beautiful Vallée de Chevreuse, 35km South-West of Paris.
The best way to get there is by renting a car so that you can enjoy the Vallée de Chevreuse and its hidden treasures.
If you want to use public transit, you can take the RER B to Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse. Then, hop on the Baladobus which will drop you off at various sites throughout the valley, notably Château de Breteuil.
If you have the time, Dampierre, l’Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay and the Château de la Madeleine are worth checking out.
The Baladobus, however, only functions from April to October, only on Sundays and on public holidays.
Château de Chantilly
This medieval fortress was ransacked in 1358 and rebuilt between 1386 to 1394. The gardens were later on designed by Le Nôtre before he designed the ones of Versailles.
Access
The Château de Chantilly is located 40km from the centre of Paris and is accessible by car, but you’ll have to pay 5 euros for parking.
By train you can take either take the RER D (45 minutes) or a train from Gare du Nord (25 minutes). Both stop at the station Chantilly-Gavieux. Then you can either walk for 20 minutes or hop on a FREE bus, the DUC, of the city. Otherwise, there is Bus #15 you can take, direction Senslis.
Activities
Once again, aside from the castle, the grounds are worth exploring. There is a labyrinth to get lost in, sheeps and wallabies to admire, and bikes you can rent to explore the grounds.
However, one the main highlights at Chantilly are the stables. They are considered to be the biggest of Europe and were built in the 18th century. From the exterior, the stables look more like a palace than anything else. Kids of ages 3 and up can meet horses and ponies while visiting the stables.
The stables also house a horse museum if you are into that sort of thing. Don’t forget to check out the website of Château de Chantilly for the scheduling of equestrian shows, renown throughout Europe.
Château de Pierrefonds
Last but not least, the Château de Pierrefonds has a surprising history.
Also, it was featured in a popular French movie of the 1990s, Les Visiteurs. To this day, Zazou and I still refer to it in our craziness.
This castle was built in the 14th century only to be taken down in the 17th century to be left in ruins. In 1858, Napoléon III commissioned the architect Violet-Le-Duc to rebuild it in a way that it would have existed in the Middle Ages.
Activities
You can download prior to your visit from the official website an activity booklet for children ages 7 to 12. It will make your kids visit a lot more interesting.
Access
The castle is about a 1-hour drive from Paris or a 2h30 train ride.
Take the K Train from Gare du Nord and get off at Crépy-en-Valois. Then, hop on a bus (27 or 28) to Mairie. However, the bus only runs twice daily.
Obviously, getting there would be a better and easier option. If you are going to rent a car, why not make it an overnight trip? We’ve found the perfect spot at Le Bois de Rosoy. What kid wouldn’t want to spend a night in a treehouse?
Now that you know which castles to visit with the kids around Paris, don’t forget to prepare your day trip accordingly.
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