Photos of the Château de Breteuil, its sublime gardens, stories and events

In the Yvelines, 20 km from Versailles and not far from the Château de Dampierre and Rambouillet, the Château de Breteuil, fully restored and richly decorated, has everything to seduce you. This enchanting family château, currently owned by Henri-François de Breteuil, is open all year round without interruption, and is an ideal visit for families, as the site not only hosts a huge playground and beautiful animated storytelling, but also year-round entertainment, shows and even an Easter egg hunt .

Located in Choisel, in the Yvelines department, the monument is famous for its staging of Perrault's fairy tales. The Château de Breteuil is a place of adventure for young and old alike, as 50 wax figures created by the Musée Grévin bring to life the daily life of a family at the heart of French history.

The outbuildings also feature 8 Perrault tales. Push open the doors of each story and let yourself be carried away by the animated sketches, each lasting a few minutes. From Sleeping Beauty to Bluebeard, fairies and Puss in Boots, you'll be carried away by the stories.

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Looking for a green walk? The Château de Breteuil is a real treasure trove for lovers of beautiful gardens. This 75-hectare park features a variety of walking areas.

In front of the château are the formal gardens laid out by Henri and Achille Duchêne around 1900. It includes a water mirror and parterres of yew and pruned boxwood.

Below, an exceptional boxwood mosaic stretches for almost 150 metres. Created thirty years ago by Marco Bailly, the estate's landscape architect, this unique composition of shapes requires special care.

These gardens are set in an English-style park on one of the slopes of the Vallée de Chevreuse. Fountains and rhododendron beds overlook the beautiful panorama of the valley.

Don't miss the walk through the forest to discover the remarkable trees and the two romantic ponds at the bottom of the estate. Exceptional specimens are to be admired, such as the cedar of Lebanon dating from the time of Marie-Antoinette, three-hundred-year-old oaks, chestnut trees from the time of Henri IV, bald cypresses, tulip trees, Laricio pines...

To the right of the château entrance, you'll discover more recent gardens, on Italian-style terraces built in the 18th century. The sublime Jardin des Princes, an English-style garden classified as a Remarkable Garden, features a beautiful arched pathway filled with flowers, irises, roses and shrubs.

The old watering basin, now restored, is at the heart of the walk.

We can't get enough of Japan's beautiful cherry blossoms.

Down below, opposite the Orangerie, is the labyrinth, ideal for entertaining children. Completed in 2000, this labyrinth of a thousand boxwoods allows visitors to rediscover the character of Ma Mère l'Oye. The labyrinth echoes another labyrinth in the bosquet chimérique, created between 1772 and March 1773, which has now disappeared.

Looking for a break or something to eat? There's a refreshment area next to the playground, where you can quench your thirst, have lunch or enjoy pancakes and ice creams. Picnic areas with plenty of tables are also available.

And don't miss the dovecote, which also features storytelling scenes.

Don't be surprised if you come across white fallow deer in the castle moat...

The château is constantly renewing its program with new activities offered throughout the year. Every Wednesday and Saturday, take part in a 90-minute escape game in the castle's second-floor rooms! Perrault afternoons with a host of activities and theatrical Nocturnes are on the menu, in addition to a specific program for each vacation.

As an added bonus, a fully guided tour is offered at 4.30pm on Sundays and public holidays, and every day during the school vacations in the Paris region.

In short, the Château de Breteuil is a real mine of discoveries for garden lovers, strollers, families looking for activities and games, and lovers of historic monuments.

For opening times, please note that the park opens from 10am to 7pm in winter and 8pm from late March to early November. The ticket office closes at 5.30pm, so no entry after this time.

Prices range from €10.80 to €11.80 for the gardens and storytelling scenes, and from €15.80 to €17.80 with a visit to the Château. Children under 5 are free.

Christmas Festival 2024 at Château de Breteuil: a fairytale for the whole family
The 2024 Christmas Festival at the Château de Breteuil, located in the Yvelines, offers a unique experience on December 15, 2024. The château lights up for the occasion, transforming this historic site into a veritable Christmas tale. With decorations in every room, nativity scenes from around the world and shows for young and old, you'll be immersed in the magic of the festive season. [Read more]

Spend the night at Château de Breteuil (78), the inspiration for Charles Perrault's fairy tales.
The Château de Breteuil in Choisel, in the Yvelines region of France, is one of the places where you can experience the life of a château. You can spend a night, a weekend or a week here, for an enchanting stay. [Read more]

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Brunch at the Auberge des 3 Hameaux in Choisel, just behind the Château de Breteuil, is undoubtedly one of the best brunches in the Yvelines, if not the whole of Ile-de-France. Affordable, all-you-can-eat, with good local produce and changing recipes, not to mention homemade pastries, we love it. Mind you, it only takes place one Sunday a month! [Read more]