Château de Vincennes

Château de Vincennes

The Château de Vincennes fortified castle is the ideal place to dive deep into the fascinating history of France.

  1. What to see and do
  2. Museums and monuments
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  4. 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 Europetowers 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.

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Community facilities

Access and contact

Avenue de Paris
Tour du Village (entrée principale du Château)
94300 Vincennes

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

From 2105 to 2209, daily between 10 am and 6 pm. From 21 May to 22 September 10am - 6pm Please note: last admission 45 minutes before the monument closes.
Sainte-Chapelle The Sainte-Chapelle opens at 10am, closes 30 minutes before the château closes and during the lunch break between 1pm and 2pm.
From 2309 to 2005, daily between 10 am and 5 pm. Closed exceptionally on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th. From 23 September to 20 May 10am - 5pm Please note: last admission 45 minutes before the monument closes.
Sainte-Chapelle The Sainte-Chapelle opens at 10am, closes 30 minutes before the château closes and during the lunch break between 1pm and 2pm.

Prices

  • From 23/09/2023 to 20/05/2024 Full price: 13 €.
    From 2105 to 22/09/2024 Full price: 13 €.
    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

  • Car park
  • Parking
  • Meeting room
  • Toilets

Services

  • Educational visits
  • Room hire
  • Shop
  • Guided tours

Activities

  • Temporary exhibition

Tour

Spoken languages

  • English
  • French

Guided tour languages

  • French

Documentation languages (home)

  • Italian
  • Dutch
  • Japanese
  • Portuguese
  • German
  • English
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Russian

Bulletin board languages

  • English
  • French

Single mean time tour

90 mins

Single services tour

  • Unguided individual tours available permanently
  • Guided individual tours available permanently
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Accessibility

See on accessible.net

Access

Pratical informations

Extérieur
  • access to the establishment: graspable outside call button
  • floor-level pathways
  • pathways that change levels are offset by a sloping surface
Parking
  • 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
Accueil
  • 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
Information
  • accessible information plates
  • all documentation graspable
  • performance room with a reserved space
Vestiaire
  • accessible cloakroom
Équipements
  • 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)
Sanitaires
  • 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
Escalier
  • Communal staircase adapted for secure movement
Parking
  • visual intercom
  • adapted access control to the car park
Accueil
  • 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
Information
  • staff trained in French sign language (LSF)
Signalétique
  • uniform signage to help people find their way around
  • text/image signage
Équipements
  • 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
Visite
  • 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
Extérieur
  • exterior pathways identifiable by touch
  • exterior pathways visually identifiable
  • exterior lighting control system in communal areas
Accueil
  • interior pathways identifiable by touch
  • interior pathways visually identifiable
Équipements
  • 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
Ascenseur
  • elevator with audio announcements for each floor
  • elevator with identifiable call buttons
Visite
  • Legible information plates
  • specific accessible information plates
  • tactile tour
Extérieur
  • the dangers identified have been addressed
Information
  • brochures/documentations classified by topic
  • simplified adapted documentation (illustration through images, photos, drawings)
Signalétique
  • adapted signage
Visite
  • adapted activities
  • educational workshops
  • adapted room cards
  • specific tours
Extérieur
  • floor-level pathways
Accueil
  • adapted opening hours (morning performances)
  • children's programme
  • childcare service
  • family tariffs/free admission for children
Information
  • secure and closed establishment
Vestiaire
  • large lockers or left luggage lockers for pushchairs
  • possibility to leave pushchairs at the cloakroom
Équipements
  • floor-level establishment
  • baby carrier loan
  • pushchair loan
Sanitaires
  • toilet facilities suitable for children (toilet seat and washbasin height)
  • changing table
Visite
  • 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
Extérieur
  • floor-level pathways
Accueil
  • pets accepted on site and during guided tours
  • reception desk easily identifiable and accessible
  • reception/information desk equipped with a sound amplification system
Vestiaire
  • cloakroom
Équipements
  • 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)
Sanitaires
  • horizontal support rail
  • diagonal support rail to enable the seated person to raise themselves up easily
Escalier
  • communal staircase adapted for secure movement
  • private staircase adapted for secure movement
Ascenseur
  • stairs compensated for by a lift or an elevator
Visite
  • audioguides equipped with a volume control device
  • audioguides equipped with induction loops
  • Legible information plates
  • Specific accessible information plates (large characters)

Avenue de Paris
Tour du Village (entrée principale du Château)
94300 Vincennes

  • Copyright image:
  • © JARRY-TRIPELON/CRT Paris-Ile