Château de Vincennes

The Château de Vincennes is a former fortress and royal residence next to the town of Vincennes, on the eastern edge of Paris, alongside the Bois de Vincennes. It was largely built between 1361 and 1369, and was a preferred residence, after the Palais de la Cité, of French kings from the 14th to 16th century. It is particularly known for its "donjon" or keep, a fortified central tower (the tallest in Europe) built in the 14th century and for the chapel, Sainte-Chapelle de Vincennes, begun in 1379 but not completed until 1552, which is an exceptional example of Flamboyant Gothic architecture. Because of its fortifications, the château was often used as a royal sanctuary in times of trouble and as a prison and military headquarters. The chapel was listed as an historic monument in 1853 and the keep was listed in 1913. Most of the building is now open to the public.

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Key facts

Created

1340

Listed as

classified historical monument (25/6/1993)

Location

Vincennes

Official website

www.chateau-vincennes.fr

On your route

Driving through France or Belgium? Vaut le Détour places this stop on your itinerary with your real arrival time, a lunch spot open at that hour, and fuel or charging.

Nearby

• château de Versailles, 23.5 km away
• Bastille, 5.0 km away
• Centre national d'art et de culture Georges-Pompidou, 6.4 km away
• palais des Tuileries, 8.0 km away
• palais du Luxembourg, 7.2 km away
• jardin des Tuileries, 8.4 km away
• catacombes de Paris, 7.6 km away
• École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, 7.7 km away

Frequently asked questions

What is there to see near Château de Vincennes?

Nearby: château de Versailles (23.5 km), Bastille (5.0 km), Centre national d'art et de culture Georges-Pompidou (6.4 km), palais des Tuileries (8.0 km). Each one can become a detour on your route.

How do I buy tickets for Château de Vincennes?

Tickets for Château de Vincennes are sold online (Tiqets ticketing, instant confirmation, tickets on your phone). The booking link is on this page.

When was Château de Vincennes created?

Wikidata gives 1340 as its date of creation or foundation.

Is Château de Vincennes a protected monument?

Yes: classified historical monument (25/6/1993) (source: Wikidata).

Facts and key figures: the Wikipedia article “Château de Vincennes” (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0), retrieved on 2026-08-05. Opening hours and prices are deliberately left out: they change too fast to be reliable anywhere but the official website.