Exceptional places / Stately Châteaux / Chateau de Ecouen

Chateau de Ecouen

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Visit the Château d'Écouen! Home to the National Museum of the Renaissance, explore stunning decorative arts, arms, and tapestries in a majestic 16th-century fortress.

Chateau de Ecouen

Visit the Château d'Écouen! Home to the National Museum of the Renaissance, explore stunning decorative arts, arms, and tapestries in a majestic 16th-century fortress.

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About Chateau de Ecouen

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Dominating the plains of France, this château is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture. Built in the 16th century for Grand Constable Anne de Montmorency, the most powerful man in the kingdom after the king, it was designed by the greatest artists of the era (Jean Bullant, Jean Goujon). The building impresses with its classical rigor and majesty. Since 1977, it has housed the National Museum of the Renaissance, making it a unique place where form and content are in perfect harmony. Inside, the collections are breathtaking: gold and silver work, Iznik ceramics, Limoges enamels, and above all, the famous 75-meter-long tapestry of David and Bathsheba, a masterpiece of 16th-century tapestry. The original frescoed fireplaces are the largest and best preserved in France. Unlike the Loire Valley castles, Écouen retains an atmosphere of a studious and refined court palace, nestled in a 19-hectare forest that once served as a hunting ground.

Tip for an even more exceptional visit.

Take advantage of the proximity to Paris (approximately 20 minutes by train from Gare du Nord) for a day trip. The tea room located in the south wing offers a terrace with breathtaking views of the valley, ideal for a relaxing break.

2 Key Dates

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1547

Anne de Montmorency completed this palace intended to receive King Henry II, which today houses the National Museum of the Renaissance.
history_edu
12/11/1807

By decree, Emperor Napoleon transformed the Château d'Écouen into a school for the daughters of members of the Legion of Honour. Under the direction of Madame Campan, the institution aimed to provide a dignified and structured education to young girls, often orphans, whose fathers had distinguished themselves in service to the State.
NAPOLEON