The 10 most beautiful castles in Yvelines
10 châteaux
Chosen among 152 recorded castles
What to see in Yvelines when you only have a weekend: the 10 most visited castles according to their visitors’ reviews, among those open to the public whose visiting conditions we checked on the official website. For each: what you see, the entry price, the link to the full entry.
Ranked by renown: how often their name is searched on Google each month, and how many reviews visitors have left. “Beautiful” is your word; what we measure is what visitors choose.
No. 1
Palace of Versailles
Versailles
Home to the kings of France for more than a century, the Palace of Versailles was built at the wish of Louis XIV to display the power of the monarchy. Visitors can see the royal apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, and extensive grounds that include the Grand and Petit Trianon and the Hameau de la Reine.
No. 2
Château de Breteuil (Breteuil Castle)
Choisel
In the Chevreuse valley, some thirty kilometres south of Paris, the château de Breteuil stands on land where a residence was built in the late 16th century, later shaped over generations by the same family since the early 18th century.
Adult €19.50Hours, prices and access
No. 3
Château de Monte-Cristo (Monte-Cristo Castle)
Le Port-Marly
Alexandre Dumas had this residence built between 1844 and 1847, combining a Renaissance style pavilion with an English style park overlooking the Seine.
No. 4
Château de Rambouillet (Rambouillet Castle)
Rambouillet
An hour from Paris, this Yvelines château bears the marks of six centuries of successive building campaigns, from the fortified 14th century manor to the alterations requested by French presidents.
No. 5
Château de la Madeleine (Madeleine Castle)
Chevreuse
The Château de la Madeleine overlooks the town of Chevreuse in the Yvelines department, with views across the valley it once guarded. Dating back to the 11th century, this former fortified castle remains well preserved, allowing visitors to trace its defensive architecture clearly.
Free entryHours, prices and access
No. 6
Château de Dampierre (Dampierre Castle)
Dampierre-en-Yvelines
Set in the Chevreuse valley, Dampierre castle stands on the site of a medieval manor, remodelled during the Renaissance and then rebuilt in the late 17th century by Jules Hardouin-Mansart for the Duke of Chevreuse, Colbert's son-in-law.
Adult €10Hours, prices and access
No. 7
Château de Villiers-le-Mahieu
Villiers-le-Mahieu
Located in Villiers-le-Mahieu, in the Yvelines department, this castle traces its origins to the 13th century and underwent a major remodelling in the 17th century that shaped much of its present appearance. Listed as a historic monument, the building now operates as a hotel.
No. 8
Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Saint-Germain-en-Laye Castle)
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Overlooking the Seine west of Paris, the château of Saint-Germain-en-Laye served as a residence for the kings of France over several centuries, from Louis VI to Louis XIV.
Adult €6Hours, prices and access
No. 9
Château de Maisons (Maisons Castle)
Maisons-Laffitte
The château de Maisons in Maisons-Laffitte, Yvelines, stands among the major achievements of seventeenth century French civil architecture, built for René de Longueil in the first half of that century.
Adult €9Hours, prices and access
No. 10
Chateau-Neuf de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The Château Neuf of Saint-Germain-en-Laye recalls a royal residence built in the second half of the 16th century, of which the original building no longer stands. It was within these now-vanished walls that the future Louis XIV was born.
Every castle in Yvelines (152)Which ones open this weekend?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most beautiful castle in Yvelines?
- The most visited in Yvelines is Palace of Versailles, first in this selection according to its visitors’ reviews. All 10 castles listed are open to visitors with checked hours.
- How much does a visit cost?
- The adult entry price is shown under each castle when the official website publishes it; 1 of these castles are free.
- How is this selection made?
- Among the 152 castles recorded in Yvelines, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.