There are buildings we know mainly from the outside, rarely getting the chance to inspect their details. The Château de Forges-les-Bains is one of those places that will open up especially for the Heritage Days. Held this year on the weekend of September 19–20, 2026, this national event invites visitors to explore monuments, public buildings, historic homes, and cultural sites tied to the memory of the regions.
Through occasional openings, tours and encounters, the Journées du Patrimoine remind us that the history of Paris and the Île-de-France isn’t just told in the grand museums. It’s also written in the châteaux, the églises, the old houses and the buildings that have long shaped life in the communes.
At Forges-les-Bains, the castle stands as one of the region’s heritage anchors. Rebuilt in the 17th century on the site of an ancient feudal estate, the mansion underwent major transformations in the century that followed. Edme Mathurin Le Jariel, the king’s squire and lord of Forges, is said to have helped shape much of its current appearance.
Surrounded by a park and outbuildings, the château embodies the architecture of country houses that sprang up around Paris in that era. Its location at the heart of the village also underscores the long-standing links between the estate and the history of Forges-les-Bains, a town famed in the 19th century for its mineral waters and spa activity.
The building has seen several periods and multiple uses. During the Seconde Guerre mondiale, it was notably requisitioned by the German army and used as a vehicle repair workshop. After the Liberation, it returns to civilian use and remains an important part of the local landscape. Its exceptional opening during the Journées du Patrimoine today contributes to an essential mission: to raise awareness of this local heritage, transmit its history, and help visitors better understand the evolution of Forges-les-Bains.
Visit to the Château de Forges-les-Bains
The castle dates back to the time of Louis XIII.
It was rebuilt in the 17th century, most likely by the Baillon family, and completely transformed by Edme Mathurin Le Jariel, king’s squire and lord of Forges from 1717 to 1729.
The Forges estate remained in the Le Jariel family until 1810. In 1819, the château was purchased by Pierre Antoine Robert de Saint-Vincent. His descendants remain its owners to this day.
The one-story building, in a classical style, consists of a central block topped by an attic crowned with a triangular pediment, and two pavilions with French-style attics pierced by dormers, flanking the central body.
The entrance gate, which follows a haha (an opening in a boundary wall with a moat beyond to extend a perspective or to reveal a view), is also from the 18th century and has been listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments since 1963.
Participation terms: Free of charge | Booking required - https://www.forges-les-bains.fr/
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
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