Château de Vincennes
- What to see and do
- Museums and monuments
- Monuments
- Château de Vincennes
Description
On the edge of the Bois de Vincennes, the largest royal fortified castle in France tells a rich story full of unexpected twists and turns. This former royal residence served as a prison in the 16th century and was later forsaken by Louis XIV in favour of the Château de Versailles. Today the château houses the archives of the French military.
A Fascinating History
Imagine the castle as an old royal hunting lodge before checking out its 14th century keep — the tallest medieval fortified structure in Europe —towers and moat. The Sainte-Chapelle chapel and its splendid stained-glass windows, built during the same period to house the relics of the Passion of Christ, are still perfectly intact. Close your eyes and allow yourself to be transported back to the time when Louis XI made it into a state prison in which two renowned figures were subsequently incarcerated: the Marquis de Sade and the Count of Mirabeau.
Wander through the pavilions of the King and Queen, built for Louis XIV, before travelling in time to the days of Napoleon I, when the fortress was transformed into a barracks to defend against invasions. The exceptional architecture reflects a unique blend of influences over several centuries. An exciting and educational visit that will delight young and old alike.
Community facilities
Access and contact
Bus Lines 56, 112, 114, 115, 118, 124, 210, 318, 325
Metro Line 1 - Château de Vincennes
RER Line A - Vincennes
Days and opening hours
KEEP From 21⁄05 to 22⁄09, daily between 10 AM and 6 PM. From 23⁄09 to 20⁄05, daily between 10 AM and 5 PM. Closed exceptionally on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
HOLY CHAPEL From 21⁄05 to 22⁄09, daily between 10.30 AM and 5.30 PM - closed from 1pm to 2pm From 23⁄09 to 20⁄05, daily between 10.30 AM and 4.30 PM - closed from 1pm to 2pm Between the 1st of April and the 20th May, on week ends and bank holidays : from 10.30 AM to 1PM and from 2PM to 5.30 PM
Closed exceptionally on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
Last entry on site : 45min before closing times
Free entry every 1st sunday of the month between November and March
The keep and the Holy Chapel are open on 1st and 11th of November.
Prices
- From 21⁄05 to 22/09/2022 Full price: 9.50 €.
From 23/09/2022 to 20/05/2023 Full price: 9.50 €.
Free entry for children < 18 years. Group rate available for > 20 people.
Free for : -18-25 years old (European Union citizens and regular residents non-euopeans on European Union territory) - Disabled people and their attendant For all, every first sunday of the month from 1st of November to 31st of March
Included in the Paris Museum Pass: free access.
Facility
- Toilets
- Car park
- Meeting room
- Parking
Services
- Educational visits
- Room hire
- Shop
- Guided tours
Activities
- Temporary exhibition
Tour
Spoken languages
- English
- French
Guided tour languages
- French
Documentation languages (home)
- German
- English
- Spanish
- French
- Italian
- Dutch
- Russian
- Chinese
- Portuguese
- Japanese
Bulletin board languages
- English
- French
Single mean time tour
90 minsSingle services tour
- Unguided individual tours available permanently
- Guided individual tours available permanently
Accessibility
See on accessible.net- General
- Physical disability
- Deaf / Hard of Hearing
- Visual impairment
- Mental / Cognitive
- Family
- Senior
Access
Pratical informations
- access to the establishment: graspable outside call button
- floor-level pathways
- pathways that change levels are offset by a sloping surface
- adapted access control to the car park
- reserved and adapted parking space located close to the entrance of the site
- parking spaces laid out and connected to the road or building by an accessible pathway
- reception desk easily identifiable and accessible
- free admission for one accompanying person
- free admission on presentation of proof of entitlement
- the accessible entrance is the main entrance
- the accessible entrance is the secondary entrance (indicated)
- staff informed or trained
- specific tariff policy
- manual entrance door
- accessible information plates
- all documentation graspable
- performance room with a reserved space
- accessible cloakroom
- multimedia content access system
- spaces equipped with reserved spaces and adapted to people in wheelchairs
- floor-level establishment
- wheelchair loan
- seated area available
- seated areas available (several spread out across the entire site)
- présence d’un lave main dans les sanitaires adaptés
- accessible communal toilets
- toilets: transfer direction onto the toilet seat to the right
- toilets: transfer direction onto the toilet seat to the left
- Communal staircase adapted for secure movement
- visual intercom
- adapted access control to the car park
- acceo: instant speech transcription and visio-interpretation in French sign language (LSF)
- reception/information desk equipped with a hearing assistance system with a magnetic loop
- reservation/contact via SMS and/or email
- reservation possible by webcam
- staff trained in French sign language (LSF)
- uniform signage to help people find their way around
- text/image signage
- performance or tour assistance aids
- visual alarm with flashing light in isolated spaces
- intercom equipped with a hearing assistance system with a magnetic loop
- audiovisuals are in French sign language (LSF)
- subtitled audiovisuals
- visioguide with overlay in French sign language (LSF)
- subtitled visioguide
- audioguides equipped with a volume control device
- audioguides equipped with induction loops
- independent visit possible
- guided tour in French sign language (LSF)
- guided tour in international sign language (ISL)
- guided tours with lip reading
- guided tours with an amplifying device
- guided tours with a magnetic loop device
- exterior pathways identifiable by touch
- exterior pathways visually identifiable
- exterior lighting control system in communal areas
- interior pathways identifiable by touch
- interior pathways visually identifiable
- audioguide with description elements
- audioguide with guidance elements
- Braille documentation
- documentation in enlarged characters
- swell paper documentation
- floor-level establishment
- offset or no obstacles at face height
- navigation assistance tool (e.g. map/model - in relief/large characters/contrasting colours)
- possibility to control the lighting
- magnifying glass loan
- glass surfaces identifiable via contrasted elements in relation to the immediate surroundings
- audiodescription system
- elevator with audio announcements for each floor
- elevator with identifiable call buttons
- Legible information plates
- specific accessible information plates
- tactile tour
- the dangers identified have been addressed
- brochures/documentations classified by topic
- simplified adapted documentation (illustration through images, photos, drawings)
- adapted signage
- adapted activities
- educational workshops
- adapted room cards
- specific tours
- floor-level pathways
- adapted opening hours (morning performances)
- children's programme
- childcare service
- family tariffs/free admission for children
- secure and closed establishment
- large lockers or left luggage lockers for pushchairs
- possibility to leave pushchairs at the cloakroom
- floor-level establishment
- baby carrier loan
- pushchair loan
- toilet facilities suitable for children (toilet seat and washbasin height)
- changing table
- children's/family applications for the tour
- audioguides with a children's circuit
- children's visit booklets/games
- pushchairs accepted for the tour
- visioguides with a children's circuit
- floor-level pathways
- pets accepted on site and during guided tours
- reception desk easily identifiable and accessible
- reception/information desk equipped with a sound amplification system
- cloakroom
- documentation in enlarged characters
- floor-level establishment
- wheelchair loan
- magnifying glass loan
- cane wheelchair loan
- seated areas available (several spread out across the entire site)
- horizontal support rail
- diagonal support rail to enable the seated person to raise themselves up easily
- communal staircase adapted for secure movement
- private staircase adapted for secure movement
- stairs compensated for by a lift or an elevator
- audioguides equipped with a volume control device
- audioguides equipped with induction loops
- Legible information plates
- Specific accessible information plates (large characters)
Tour du Village (entrée principale du Château)
94300 Vincennes
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- © JARRY-TRIPELON/CRT Paris-Ile