The Château de Maisons-Laffitte is located in the town of Maisons-Laffitte, not far from the sumptuous Versailles, although the château is far less well known than that of the royal city where Louis XIV built his immense palace. In 1633, René de Longueil, a high-ranking magistrate in the Parliament of Paris, decided to build a château on his family's estate in Maisons-sur-Seine. De Longueil asked François Mansart, an architect of the time, to draw up the plans for his future home, surrounded by a vast wooded estate, which the château overlooks.
Prestigious guests have included Louis XIV and Voltaire... Château de Maisons passed from generation to generation within the de Longueil family. Finally, in 1777, the Comte d'Artois, brother of Louis XVI - and future King Charles X - purchased the property for hunting purposes. From year to year, the château passed through the hands of various owners, most notably banker Jacques Laffitte, who undertook extensive work to transform the estate. In his honor, Maisons-sur-Seine later became the town of Maisons-Laffitte. After a final purchase and an inheritance problem, the château was threatened with destruction by a property developer: thanks to a major mobilization of the town's inhabitants, who founded the Société des Amis du Château de Maisons, the French government succeeded in saving the château and acquired it in its turn in 1905. On April 18, 1914, the Château de Maisons-Laffitte was classified as a Historic Monument: since 1912, it has been open to visitors all year round, enabling them to discover the history of the town.
The château is open every day except Tuesday, from 10am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 6pm (May 16 to September 25) and from 10am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 5pm (September 16 to May 15). For people with disabilities, the château offers specially adapted tours, details of which can be found on the château's website. Admission is €8 per person, and free for minors and under-25s.
To get to the château, take RER line A or Transilien line L to the Maisons-Laffitte stop. By car (from Paris), simply follow the underground towards Cergy-Pontoise, A86, Colombes ouest exit, Bezons towards Poissy via the N192 and then the N308.
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. [Read more]
From Paris to Maisons-Laffitte by bike: a pastoral ride and a tour of the château
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Cinderella, the new immersive show at the Château de Maisons, in Maisons-Laffitte (78)
What if Cinderella left the pages behind to step into real life? From November 6 to December 13, 2026, discover the Château de Maisons’ new immersive show in Maisons-Laffitte (78), where the tale is lived from the inside, blending historic splendor and magic up to the stroke of midnight. [Read more]
6 castles with free admission this Sunday, October 4, 2026, around Paris
Châteaux in Île-de-France open their doors for free on the first Sunday of every month, and this October is no exception. A wonderful opportunity to discover our Île-de-France heritage without spending a cent this Sunday, October 4, 2026. [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
Next days
Thursday:
from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- from 02:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Friday:
from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- from 02:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Saturday:
from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- from 02:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Sunday:
from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- from 02:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Monday:
from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- from 02:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Wednesday:
from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- from 02:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Location
Le Château de Maisons
2 Avenue Carnot
78600 Maisons Laffitte
Route planner
Access
RER: line A, Maisons-Laffitte station
SNCF: train from Saint-Lazare
Official website
www.chateau-maisons.fr
Booking
www.chateau-maisons.fr
