Château de Vincennes

Just a short distance from Paris, with its keep rising over 50 metres, the Château de Vincennes stands as one of the tallest medieval fortresses in Europe — and the largest royal French castle still standing. Once a royal hunting lodge, it was later transformed into a defensive stronghold equipped with towers and a moat.

In the second half of the 14th century, Charles V decided to convert the castle into a royal residence. Work began on the Sainte-Chapelle, designed to reinforce the divine dimension of the French monarchy. The chapel was ultimately completed in Gothic style during the reign of Catherine de' Medici, by the architect Philibert Delorme.

During the visit, you will be able to admire the royal apartments spread across the various floors of the keep, as well as the prisons that once held celebrated figures of French history, including the Marquis de Sade, Diderot and the Comte de Mirabeau. Napoleon later transformed the castle into a barracks to defend against invasion, and its exceptional architecture today reflects a unique blend of influences layered across the centuries.

The guided tour will give you the opportunity to discover the castle's many functions over time, and to visit the tomb of the Duc d'Enghien — the last descendant of the house of the Grand Condé — whom Napoleon had executed by firing squad within the castle's walls.