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 renowned for its staging of Perrault's fairy tales. A place of adventure, the Château de Breteuil plunges young and old into its marvellous universe, where 50 wax figures created by the Musée Grévin bring to life the daily life of a family at the heart of French history.

There are also 8 Perrault fairy tales on display in the outbuildings. 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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Fancy a green walk? 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 meters. Created thirty years ago by Marco Bailly, the estate's landscape designer, this unique composition of shapes requires special care.

The gardens are set in an English-style park on one of the slopes of the Vallée de Chevreuse. Fountains and rhododendron beds are set against 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 to admire include the cedar of Lebanon dating from Marie-Antoinette's time, three-hundred-year-old oaks, chestnut trees from Henri IV's time, bald cypresses, tulip trees, Laricio pines...

To the right of the château entrance, you'll find 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 of flowers, irises, roses and shrubs.

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

We fall in love with the beautiful Japanese cherry blossoms.

Below, opposite the Orangerie, we discover the labyrinth, ideal for entertaining children. Created in 2000, this labyrinth of a thousand box-trees allows visitors to rediscover the character from Ma Mère l'Oye. This labyrinth echoes another labyrinth in the bosquet chimérique, created between 1772 and March 1773, which has now disappeared.

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

And don't miss a visit to the pigeon loft, which also features storytelling scenes.

Don't be surprised if you come across a white 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 treasure trove of discoveries for garden lovers, strollers, families in search of activities and games, and lovers of historic monuments.

For opening times, 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.

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