The free castles and museums in Yvelines are pulling out all the stops this Sunday, November 1, 2026. The first Sunday of the month marks the return of the winter season of free admission in Yvelines (78): the Château de Rambouillet and Villa Savoye are once again free to visit, through March. The Palace of Versailles, however, follows a different schedule: its free first-Sunday admission does not resume until December, so it will charge admission on November 1.
One small wrinkle this year: Sunday falls on All Saints’ Day. A public holiday can mean some doors are closed, so we checked the opening hours of every site before presenting them to you. The vast majority are open, with two exceptions to be aware of before setting out.
The Château de Maisons, in Maisons-Laffitte, is closed on November 1 and 11. Yet it is one of the monuments offering free admission from November to March, so visitors can return on Sunday, December 6. The Hôtel-Dieu Museum in Mantes-la-Jolie is also listed as closed on November 1 by the regional tourism committee.
For all the other venues, the opening hours listed below come from their official websites and tourism offices. With the holiday period drawing to a close, it’s still a good idea to check before setting off.
One small point to note: unlike national monuments, the Palace of Versailles and the Trianon estate, including the Queen’s Hamlet, are free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month only from December to March. So admission is still charged on November 1: the first free day of the season falls on Sunday, December 6, 2026.
The Hall of Mirrors, the royal apartments, the Coronation Room and the Gallery of Battles are ours to explore before heading to the Trianon in Marie-Antoinette’s footsteps. We’ve often found that arriving as soon as the palace opens means you can enjoy the Hall of Mirrors with far fewer people around.
This Sunday, All Saints’ Day, the palace will remain open (from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.), but admission is ticketed and must be booked through the palace’s official ticket office. Good to know: November 1 marks the final day of the season for the Grandes Eaux and Musical Gardens, so garden admission may be charged that day, while the park remains free to enter. For free admission, visit on Sunday, December 6.
From November to March, the Domaine national de Rambouillet opens its doors free of charge on the first Sunday of each month. A royal, imperial and then presidential residence, the château tells the story of six centuries of history, from François I to the international summits of the 20th century.
The ticket also includes access to the Queen’s Dairy, built for Marie-Antoinette, and the Shell Cottage, a gift to the Princess of Lamballe, whose mother-of-pearl decor still surprises visitors. The park, meanwhile, is taking on beautiful autumn colors. Remember to book your visit time slot on the Château de Rambouillet website.
In Poissy, the Villa Savoye is one of Le Corbusier’s masterpieces open to visitors in the Île-de-France region. Built between 1928 and 1931 for the Savoye family, this white house raised on pilotis brings together the five points of modern architecture so dear to the master: pilotis, a roof terrace, an open floor plan, a free façade and ribbon windows.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is free on the first Sunday of the month from November to March. It is open this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached from Poissy station (RER A) by bus 50.
We head to Saint-Germain-en-Laye, to the heart of the castle where Louis XIV was born, to discover the National Archaeology Museum. Its collections, among the richest in the world for prehistory, trace human life from its beginnings to the Merovingian period.
The museum is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month and remains open on November 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conveniently, the RER A station is right across from the château, and the national estate is a perfect place to extend your outing with a stroll along the Grande Terrasse.
In the heart of the Chevreuse Valley, the estate brings together the ruins of the abbey destroyed on the orders of Louis XIV and the National Museum of Port-Royal des Champs, completely renovated and expanded. Visitors can immerse themselves in the history of Jansenism and the paintings of Philippe de Champaigne.
Admission is free for everyone on the first Sunday of each month, and the site is indeed open on November 1. The ruins are open only on weekends and public holidays, so this Sunday, All Saints’ Day, is a good opportunity to visit. All the information is on the museum website.
Housed in the fortified gatehouse of the former royal priory of Saint-Louis, the Toy Museum is celebrating 50 years since it opened. Its collections take us on a journey from antiquity to the present day: dolls, teddy bears, trains, lead soldiers, optical toys and board games.
Children can enjoy play areas throughout the museum, while parents have fun rediscovering the toys from their childhood. The museum is open on November 1, and admission is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, from 1 to 6 p.m. Find out more on the Poissy Museums website.
Also in Poissy, the Maison de Fer is a 1896 monument made entirely of sheet iron, from floor to roof. Long mistakenly attributed to Gustave Eiffel, it was reassembled in the heart of Parc Meissonier and opened in 2020.
Like the Toy Museum, it is free to visit on the first Sunday of the month, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. From October to December, a free 30-minute guided tour, with no booking required, offers a chance to learn more about its architecture and the city’s history.
You may not know this, but the Chèvreloup Arboretum also opens its doors for free on the first Sunday of every month. This vast 200-hectare site, part of the royal estate of Versailles, is home to more than 2,500 tree species from temperate regions around the world.
In early November, it’s one of our seasonal highlights: maples, ginkgo trees and oaks turn red, and a stroll here feels like a walk through an autumn forest. Managed by the National Museum of Natural History, the arboretum is open on November 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with ticket sales closing at 4 p.m.
Nestled in the Great Stables at the Palace of Versailles, the Gallery of Coaches is free to visit all year round, even outside the first Sunday of the month. It is open this Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Coronation coaches, sleighs and sedan chairs: a visit to Versailles wouldn’t be complete without seeing this collection.
This program is ideal for families looking to end the autumn break on a cultural note, fans of French history and architecture enthusiasts. Between Versailles, Chèvreloup and the Gallery of Coaches, you can even put together a full day without leaving town.
A word of advice: free admission on the first Sunday of the month draws big crowds, especially when it falls on a public holiday. Book your time slot in Rambouillet now. And if you’re staying in Paris, our selection of museums and monuments offering free admission this November 1 and our ideas for things to do over the All Saints’ Day holiday have you covered.
So, how about enjoying a lovely free outing in the Yvelines this Sunday, November 1, 2026?
And to find out more:
Free museums and monuments on Sundays: the best tips for November 1 in Paris and Île-de-France
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Looking to make the most of this public holiday by wandering through Paris and the Île-de-France area? Here are our picks for outings to enjoy on Sunday, November 1, 2026, All Saints' Day. [Read more]
Eleven châteaux in Île-de-France are opening their doors for free this Sunday, November 1, 2026, the first Sunday of the month and All Saints’ Day. Two more await just beyond the Île-de-France border, in Oise. [Read more]
Are you looking for a free museum in Paris or a free monument in Île-de-France? Free-access venues, free tours on the first Sunday of each month, museums free for under-26s and for teachers: discover the cultural deals you won’t want to miss. [Read more]
Want to get to know Paris Region better? This time, we're taking you to the Yvelines to discover its heritage, places to visit, must-do activities and the best deals of the moment. From castles to walks and good addresses, here's what's in store for you in the 78 département. [Read more]
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Dates and Opening Time
On November 1, 2026
Location
National Archaeology Museum
Domaine National de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
78100 Saint Germain en Laye
Route planner
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
Free museums and monuments on Sundays: the best tips for November 1 in Paris and Île-de-France
What to do on November 1, 2026: our pick of All Saints’ Day outings in Paris and Île-de-France
Which châteaux in Île-de-France can you visit for free this public holiday, November 1, 2026?
Free museums in Paris and free monuments in Île-de-France: the top cultural deals
What to do in Yvelines (78)? Heritage, good addresses and activities, ideas for outings
