Historic Monument with hidden treasures, the Château de Vincennes is highlighted during these new Journées du Patrimoine 2026. Yes, it sits just a stone’s throw from Paris. But many of us forget that this fortress is a survivor that boasts a few records! It is indeed the largest French fortress castle in existence, and its keep, rising to 52 meters, is the tallest in Europe. In this same keep, Voltaire as well as the Marquis de Sade were imprisoned.
The Château of Vincennes: A Royal Fortress at the Gates of Paris
Along with the Louvre, the Château de Vincennes is one of the most important castles in French history. It is also one of the largest and best-preserved fortified castles in Europe... [Read more]
For the 43rd edition of Journées du Patrimoine 2026, taking place on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, this fortress invites you to discover its secrets through a series of tours and activities that showcase the different corners of the castle.
The Journées du Patrimoine are an opportunity to learn more about the history of the many sumptuous monuments scattered around France. Every year in Paris and the Ile-de-France region, there's a wide range of sites to visit: from major institutions to unusual or hidden sites, cultural centers and churches... the hardest part is choosing!
Château de Vincennes - Charles V's Versailles
Former residence of the kings of France. A 14th-century keep and gatehouse, the Sainte-Chapelle from the 14th and 16th centuries, the King’s and Queen’s Pavilion from the 17th century, the Mazarin Salon, and 19th-century casemates. Château de Vincennes today stands as the largest royal fortress in France.
Participation requirements: Advance reservation on the day at the association’s stand in the castle’s forecourt. Tours depart from the stand. Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of the visit. - Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Friday, 18 September 2026 — 02:30–03:00 | Saturday, 19 September 2026 — 15:00–16:00 | Sunday, 20 September 2026 — 11:00–12:00
A look at the Robert Combas exhibition “People say I’m grotesque…”
On the occasion of Europe’s Heritage Days, discover in the Sainte-Chapelle of the Château de Vincennes an exhibition of Robert Combas’s canvases, a leading figure of the Free Figuration movement.
Created in the 1980s, fourteen emblematic works from the artist, drawn from Didier Moiselet’s collection, invade the church’s nave. Among them, towering acrylics on canvas, more than two meters tall and rarely shown.
Figures in profusion, bold colors, dense, narrative compositions: Combas’s universe reveals itself here in its vibrant, inventive energy. This selection offers a clear measure of the artist’s creative force and his pivotal role in reviving French painting at the dawn of the 1980s.
Under the colored light of Sainte-Chapelle’s stained glass, a striking encounter between Combas’s boisterous world and one of the jewels of Gothic French art!
Participation conditions: Free entry, no booking required - Free | No booking
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Château de Vincennes - The Château de Vincennes and its history, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century
The first manor erected by Philip II Augustus. The keep, built by Charles V between 1364 and 1370, was completed between 1373 and 1380 with the raising of the great enclosure. The Sainte-Chapelle was founded in 1379 (work completed by Henry II in 1552). The castle was reorganized in the 17th century by Louis Le Vau: the inner court with its outbuildings, the keep's courtyard, and the “new castle” courtyard along which he built the King’s Pavilion and the Queen’s Pavilion. Converted into a military base in the 19th century, restored after World War II, it has housed the army’s historical services since 1948.
Participation conditions: Tours run every half hour starting at 10:30 a.m. Advance reservations on the day at the association’s stand in the castle’s forecourt. Tours depart in front of the stand. Please gather 10 minutes before the start of the tour. - Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, 19 September 2026 — 10:00 to 17:30 | Sunday, 20 September 2026 — 10:00 to 17:30
Château de Vincennes — The 1804 Duke of Enghien affair
A reenactment of the Duke of Enghien's execution in the moat of the Château.
A tour organized by the Friends of Vincennes Society.
Participation conditions: Pre-booking required, on the day itself, at the association's stand in the château's forecourt. Meet 10 minutes before the start of the tour. Tours limited to 17 participants. Able-bodied participants; walking shoes recommended. - Free | No booking required
Schedules: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:30–11:30, 13:30–14:30, 15:15–16:15 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:30–11:30, 13:30–14:30, 15:15–16:15
Château de Vincennes — August 1944, on the eve of Liberation, the execution of resistance fighters
A commemoration of the executions of resistance fighters during the Liberation, carried out in the ditches around the Château de Vincennes.
A tour organized by the Friends of Vincennes Society.
Participation requirements: Advance booking required on the same day at the association's stand in the castle's inner courtyard. Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of the tour. Tours limited to 17 participants. Physically fit individuals; walking shoes recommended. - Free | No reservations
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM–3:00 PM, 4:00 PM–5:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:00 PM–3:00 PM, 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
Workshop "The Little Architects"
Ready to uncover all the secrets of medieval architecture? It’s your turn to build your very own cardboard castle. The facilitator will guide you through every step of assembling your model, with plenty of personalization to reflect your family’s style!
Participation requirements: Meeting point: King's Pavilion at the castle — Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday 19 September 2026 – 14:00 to 16:00, 16:00 to 16:30 | Sunday 20 September 2026 – 14:00 to 16:00, 16:00 to 16:30
Here's a great program to fill our weekend for these Heritage Days in the Val-de-Marne!
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Vincennes Castle
Avenue de Paris
94300 Vincennes
Route planner
Accessibility info
Prices
Free
Official website
www.chateau-de-vincennes.fr
The Château of Vincennes: A Royal Fortress at the Gates of Paris
