There are châteaux in Île-de-France, and there are dozens and dozens of them! Some are very (too?) well-known, like Versailles or Vincennes. However, others are a little less recognized, and we really regret that. For example, we can mention Vaux-le-Vicomte (our absolute favorite) or Breteuil, a unique castle located in the heart of the Chevreuse Valley, which takes us into a magical world thanks to a number of automata and wax statues.
A leap back in time
It was in 1712, more than a hundred years after the work that gave it its current appearance, that the castle came into the possession of the Breteuil family and gained its current name. From that moment on, the various owners and heirs would continuously make modifications to the castle and its exterior.
surprises, for example adding a dreamy grove, a vegetable orchard in four terraces, or even a Chinese pavilion.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Today, the property spans over 75 hectares, and includes a castle, the interior of which has been classified as a historic monument since 1961, and the exterior since 1973. Its magnificent park, also classified, features an absolutely stunning French garden and an English park (with a maze to boot) that has earned it the title of « remarkable garden ». But what truly gives the place its value are its exceptional presentations.
A place between history and magic
Whether it's in the castle's rooms, along the paths of the park or in the annex buildings scattered throughout the property, Breteuil boasts around fifty.and automata and wax figures, created by the experts at the Grévin Museum. While most of them are used for historical reconstructions, literally immersing us in the past, twenty of them, however, are dedicated to a task that is much more magical.
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Indeed, the castle has been for many years under the sign of fairy tales and magic. And rightly so, here and there, you can find characters from Perrault’s stories, recreating symbolic scenes. You can see Donkeyskin (played by Catherine Deneuve) preparing a cake for the prince, as well as Little Red Riding Hood in her grandmother's room, or even Puss in Boots and Briar Rose. It's all set for a delightful moment that almost makes us want to start all our articles with “Once upon a time....”
Address: 78460 Choisel, France
