Château de Rambouillet
Royal, later presidential château southwest of Paris; Rambouillet can be visited with the Laiterie de la Reine, the Chaumière aux coquillages and a large park.
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About the museum
The Rambouillet estate goes back to a medieval castle, rebuilt at the end of the 14th century and remodelled several times afterwards. Francis I died in this château in 1547. In the 18th century, the Duke of Penthièvre enlarged it and surrounded it with gardens and buildings, before Louis XVI bought it in 1783 to establish a model farm for his flock of merino sheep.
The king also had built the Laiterie de la Reine, given to Marie-Antoinette, and the Chaumière aux coquillages, a cabinet decorated with shells and mother-of-pearl in the park. Napoleon I had the château renovated, and several sovereigns, including Charles X, subsequently stayed there.
From 1897, Rambouillet served as the country residence of the Presidents of the Republic. The château still hosts official receptions. It is managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux, which offers a route through the apartments and salons as well as a visit of the park and its pavilions.
Highlights
- Apartments and salons of the château, presidential residence
- Laiterie de la Reine, built for Marie-Antoinette
- Chaumière aux coquillages decorated with shells and mother-of-pearl
- Park of several hundred hectares with a French formal garden and an English garden
- State guest rooms and apartment of visiting heads of state (Grand Tour guided visit)
Permanent exhibitions
- Château de Rambouillet – A route through the salons and apartments of the château, residence of the Presidents of the Republic.
- Laiterie de la Reine et chaumière aux coquillages – Two 18th-century pavilions in the park, linked to Marie-Antoinette, with an interpretation space.
- Founded
- 1474
- Operated by
- Centre des monuments nationaux
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €11 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for visitors under 18. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for visitors with disabilities and their companion. |
| Students & apprentices | –Free admission for ages 18 to 25, citizens of the European Union or non-EU residents with a valid residence permit. |
| Groups (18+ people) | €9.50 per personPrice per person for groups of at least 18 paying adults (18 people maximum), outside weekends, public holidays and school holidays in Zone C; booking is mandatory. |
| Grand Tour (château, Laiterie, Chaumière and guided visit of the guest rooms) | €13Adds a 30-minute guided visit of the state guest rooms and the apartment of visiting heads of state. |
| Laiterie de la Reine and Chaumière aux coquillages | €7 |
| Visite découverte with partner rate | €9.50€8 with the SNCF Grand Voyageur card |
Free admission: First Sunday of January, February, March, November and December.
The “Visite découverte” ticket (€11) gives access to the château, the Laiterie and the Chaumière, excluding the state guest rooms. Job seekers and holders of the Pass Éducation are also exempt with proof. The Pass Passion monuments is accepted. Online booking is mandatory, as only a limited number of places are available per time slot.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description: no information
The château has no lift (221 steps); five steps lead to the reception, and the Laiterie and the Chaumière have a few steps. A wheelchair can be requested at reception. Free loan, against an ID, of an induction loop, a magnifying glass and noise-reducing headphones; folding seats are available. Tactile plan with Braille description in the Cour d’honneur. Visits in French Sign Language by reservation, and a booklet in easy-to-read language. Two reserved parking spaces at the foot of the château, to be booked by telephone.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly: not available
- Playground / play area
Family events with visits and workshops on Sundays and during school holidays, by online booking. In the park, from April to November: boats, bicycles and electric buggies, as well as go-karts and wooden ponies for the youngest. No minimum age for the visits. Strollers are not admitted into the monuments and there is no cloakroom; a front baby carrier is recommended.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Rambouillet (gare) · 15-min walk
TER train from Paris-Montparnasse to Rambouillet (about 35 minutes); Transilien line N from Montparnasse (about 1 hr 15 min); from the station, 15 minutes on foot or bus 5301 or 5304 towards Groussay.
By car
Free parking · 5-min walk · 600 m to the entrance
Free, shaded car park in the park, about 600 m from the château entrance. Two accessible parking spaces about 50 m away, to be booked by telephone.
- Accessible parking
By car from Paris, about 50 minutes (A13, A12 or A6, A10, A11, then N10). The entrance is at 12 rue de la Motte. The site lies on the Véloscénie cycle routes.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
- Coat check: not available
- Lockers: not available
Gourmet kiosk (crêpes, waffles, ice cream) from April to November, on the terrace. Picnic area near the car park. Bookshop-shop at the château. Toilets only in the château, during opening hours. No cloakroom: large bags and suitcases are not allowed.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 30 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography without flash is permitted in the monuments. |
| Good to know | The self-guided visit of the château takes about 45 minutes. The monuments close between 13:00 and 14:00. Dogs on a leash are admitted in the park, but not in the monuments (except guide dogs). Smoking is prohibited across the entire site. |
