The Château d’Ormesson and its vast estate will open to the public for the first time this summer, 2026.

One of Val-de-Marne’s best-kept secrets reveals its treasures to the public this summer for the first time, from July 27 to September 4, 2026. The Château d'Ormesson, a 16th-century estate that has remained in the same family for generations, invites walkers to explore its historic grounds and its sumptuous interior.

The Domaine d'Ormesson, in the heart of the Val-de-Marne, opens its doors to the public for the first time this summer, from July 27 to September 4, 2026. Usually accessible only during the Heritage Days, one of Île-de-France's oldest private estates, it will be revealed through tours of its castle and its grounds, about 40 minutes from Paris.

Long known as Château d'Amboile, this historic residence was built of brick and stone from 1578 by Louis-Picot de Santeny, the intendant of finances whose family owned the estate at that time. A few years later it was purchased by Nicolas Le Prevost de Malassis, who had a daughter, Anne, married since 1604 to André Le Fèvre d’Ormesson, whose descendants have owned it ever since.

Over the centuries it has welcomed major figures of French intellectual life such as Madame de Sévigné, Racine, or La Fontaine. In 1870 Prussian troops seized the art objects and hurled furniture and knick-knacks into the basins, just as the Germans did in 1940. Wladimir d’Ormesson was the last to live there, his children having settled in the outbuildings.

Jean d’Ormesson, his nephew, spent a good deal of his youth there. It was on the château steps that he received his Académicien’s sword in 1974.

As for the Park, it spans 66 hectares and is crossed by the Morbras, a tributary of the Marne. Although nothing remains of the Italian Gardens, it was in 1758 that the park was reorganized according to the principles of Le Nôtre, Louis XIV's gardener. The château has been designated a Monument Historique since 1889. You may also have seen the estate if you watch the show "Le Meilleur Pâtissier" on M6 or in numerous series and films, the location being regularly used for shoots.

During your visit, you can discover the gardens of the estate, set along the rivers that border them, and stroll through this bucolic, leafy park. Only the ground floor of the château is open to the public, where the family’s historic furnishings and an opulent decor have remained intact through the generations. The grand drawing room, one of the finest spaces, has featured wall frescoes since 2022, painted for a series about Benjamin Franklin.

Quieter, the family chapel is located on the upper floors, with an atmosphere of quiet contemplation and its soft light filtering through a small skylight, accessible only on guided tours that you can book in advance. Everything else is open for self-guided visits, noting that the château is only open from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:30.

In the meantime, you can take in the château’s façade, whose towers rise on decorative supports, giving it a charming Loire Valley castle vibe. For the occasion, you can enter through the gate on Avenue Olivier d'Ormesson and descend with a view of the monument.

Choose comfortable shoes, as the cobblestones along the path are uneven. To roam the park and the castle at your leisure, budget €10 (€5 for ages 12–18, free for under 12), and for a guided tour of the castle, opt for the €15 option, available only on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 and 15:00.

It's best to reserve in advance for guided tours, but for a simple visit, you can simply come on site during opening hours and pay the admission fee.