Chateau de Meudon

From the Court of the Grand Dauphin to the Stars Once nicknamed the "Versailles of the Grand Dauphin," the Meudon estate was one of the most sumptuous places in the 17th century. Although the "Old Castle" was destroyed by fire in 1795 and 1871, the site still boasts the New Castle, an architectural marvel commissioned by Jules Hardouin-Mansart. This palace, perched on a monumental terrace that seems suspended above Paris, testifies to Louis XIV's ambition for his son. Since 1876, the site has undergone a fascinating transformation: it houses the Paris Observatory, incorporating a colossal astronomical dome directly onto the structures of the former palace, thus blending French history with cutting-edge scientific research. A visit to the estate is first and foremost a landscape experience. The Great Terrace, designed by Le Nôtre, remains one of the most impressive in Europe due to its size and the perspective it offers. Strolling along this natural balcony, one grasps the strategic and aesthetic importance of the site, which once overlooked a complex network of gardens, ponds, and groves. It is a hybrid site where vestiges of court life (such as the Orangery and the Renaissance grottoes) stand alongside celestial instruments, creating a unique atmosphere, both nostalgic and resolutely forward-looking.