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Free castles to visit around Paris every first Sunday of the month

undefined undefined 31 mai 2023 undefined 17h00

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The Editor

© Shutterstock - Petr Kovalenkov - Château de Fontainebleau

Every first Sunday of the month, you can visit a bunch of museums and monuments for free in Paris. For the more adventurous among you, those seeking an escape, it's also possible to head out of the capital to (re)discover one of the stunning castles that dot the region: here are 4 free ones just waiting for you next Sunday!


The Chateau of Fontainebleau 

Nestled halfway between the famous imperial castle and the vast preserved forest of 22,000 hectares, the Domain of Fontainebleau welcomes all Parisians longing for greenery. From the outside, the enchanting Chateau of Fontainebleau is a feast for the eyes. Upon entering, the visual delight continues to unfold beautifully. It's worth mentioning that François I hired the best French and Italian artists and craftsmen to decorate these thousands of square meters! In fact, no less than 36 sovereigns called this place home over 300 years: each of them leaving behind their own unique styles, forever marked…

Château de Fontainebleau 
Free every first Sunday of the month, except for July and August 
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Château de Malmaison

For a few hours in a royal haven of peace, look no further, we’ve found it! At the end of the RER A line lies a castle like no other, adorned with gardens of exotic plants designed by Joséphine, Napoleon's ex-wife. If the walls of the castle could speak, they would surely tell us how the Consulate, from 1801 to 1802, made significant decisions in History: Civil Code, Legion of Honor… Today, the estate of the two castles, Bois-Préau and Malmaison, forms the National Museum of the Châteaux of Malmaison and Bois-Préau where you can visit the apartments of the Emperor and his family, admire works of art from the  time and even the famous oval room where the Empress passed away on May 29, 1814.

Château Malmaison
Avenue du Château de Malmaison – Rueil-Malmaison
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The Château d’Écouen

The Château d'Écouen, located 20 kilometers north of Paris, overlooks the plain of the country of...France and the Chantilly Forest. Today, it houses the exceptional collections of the National Museum of the Renaissance, and it was once the property of Anne de Montmorency, a grand lord of the Renaissance: the château carries the marks of this powerful man, a patron and passionate aesthetician of art. When you visit, you'll discover a unique place, a testament to a sumptuous era rich in history, where masterpieces of the Renaissance blend with the world of a man who loved art and culture.

Château d'Écouen
Rue Jean Bullant – Écouen
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The Château of Saint-Germain-en-Laye 

Also known as "Château Vieux", this place is a former residence of the kings of France, where many peace treaties and royal edicts were signed. Today, it is home to the National Archaeology Museum. Don’t miss the balcony at the far right of the room called "La Gaule des origines", which offers a timeless break with a view of the château's courtyard, basking in the midday sun... Tempting, isn’t it?

Good news: you can get there in just 30 minutes via the RER A, heading towards the terminus! 

Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
1, place Charles de Gaulle – Saint-Germain-en-Laye
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