Monument Jeu d'Enfant 2026: this weekend's art program at the Château de Maisons

Head to the Château de Maisons-Laffitte on October 17 and 18, 2026, for the Monument Jeu d’Enfant event. All weekend long, kids will dive into the art of photography. Discover the activities that await you there.

There’s a festive air in this stunning 17th‑century castle... The Centre des Monuments Nationaux invites you to the Château de Maisons in Maisons-Laffitte to take part in the national event Monument Jeu d’Enfant! This event, now in its 28th edition, is a weekend dedicated to children, giving them the chance to discover the hidden treasures of the nation’s monuments.

Everywhere in France, churches, castles, historic houses, monuments and historic landmarks welcome young visitors free of charge, offering them a wide range of activities and themed tours (although parents must still pay admission).

Just 18 kilometers from Paris, accessible by RER line A, a fun-filled getaway to the Château de Maisons is an opportunity to discover the impressive monument built by François Mansart. The beauty of the site so inspired Louis XIV, that he asked the sculptors and decorators from Maisons to come and work at Versailles, to embellish the royal chateau.

The Château de Maisons opens up this weekend for Monument Jeu d’Enfant, on October 17 and 18, 2026, through a range of playful workshops that are sure to delight the whole family.

What’s on the agenda for this event:

Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October from 10:00 to 11:30
DEEPENING IN PHOTOGRAPHY
After a tour of the château, the group focuses on the different depths that make up a photograph. Using concrete images as a guide, children learn to locate elements from the foreground to the horizon. Once the concept of depth is mastered, each participant selects a pre-printed photo of the château and distinguishes the various planes using different colors. This workshop helps youngsters adopt the vocabulary of images and learn to read a picture.
Ages 3 to 7
Duration: 1h30
Online booking required
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October from 14:00 to 16:00
STORYTELLING, CREATE YOUR OWN NARRATIVE
Children explore photography and its techniques during a brief tour of the monument, guided by vintage gelatin-silver prints from the 1640s on display and historical objects. Then they craft a photo-novel! In the style of a comic strip, participants create a panel sequence to tell a story.
From 8 years old
Duration: 2h
Online booking required
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October from 10:00 to 11:30 and 14:00 to 16:00
Price: standard admission
Reservations: reservations.chateaudemaisons@monuments-nationaux.fr

The château was built in the mid-17th century by a nobleman, Jean René de Longueil, precisely on the path leading the king from the Château du Louvre to the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The cunning marquis chose this location to give himself a chance to meet King Louis XIV, offering him a short break on the way.

Jean René de Longueil even went so far as to reserve a wing of the château for the king, and had him design a King's Apartment, complete with a room with a ceiling of interlocking domes and a ballroom designed for the Sun King. The King would come here for one evening, much to the nobleman's delight.

Discover this beautiful château and its rich history on a family outing. Shall we go?