Maisons de plaisance around Paris: the Musée du Domaine royal de Marly exhibition

In 1679, Louis XIV decided to build a new château near the lush Marly forest. This hunting hermitage became his pleasure residence, and from 1686 he was a regular visitor. In a new exhibition running from April 11 to August 31 2025, the Musée du Domaine Royal explores the phenomenon of pleasure homes around the capital, from Louis XIV to Napoleon III, where the elite sought to escape city life in the summer months.

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Prints, paintings and objects from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries illustrate the art of holiday living in the Paris region, which helped shape the French landscape with the creation of buildings that still exist today, including small châteaux, villas, pavilions and other pleasure homes. Each one more sumptuous than the last, and all set back in the countryside, they saw the emergence of new forms of entertainment and relaxation.

An exhibition that takes a closer look at social transformations at the end of the Ancien Régime and in the 19th century, particularly relevant now that many city dwellers have escaped to the countryside in search of a better life after the health crisis.

Exhibitions to see in Yvelines: the department's cultural outings programme
Residents of Yvelines don't have to travel far to find something to entertain them: a host of exhibitions and art venues await you in the Paris region. [Read more]