Château de Vincennes

The origins of the Château de Vincennes date back to the 12th century, when Louis VII had a hunting lodge built in the forest around 1150. In the 13th century, under Louis IX and Philip II Augustus, a royal residence, the Château du Bois-de-Vincennes, was established. From 1337, Philip VI began construction of the current Donjon, which was continued under John II and Charles V and completed in 1373. In the 17th century, Louis Le Vau extended the complex with the King's Pavilion and the Queen's Pavilion. Later, the castle served as a state prison and housed a porcelain manufactory. In 1804, Louis Antoine Henri de Condé was executed here on Napoleon's orders, and in 1917, Mata Hari met her death in the fortress moat. During World War II, the castle served as the headquarters of the French General Staff in 1940.

The Château de Vincennes is located in the city of Vincennes in the Val-de-Marne department, within the Île-de-France region of France. It stands at an elevation of approximately 40 meters above sea level.

Today, the Château de Vincennes houses departments of the Ministry of Defense, including the Military Archives and Military History Research, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Communication, specifically the Center for National Monuments. Visitors can explore the impressive architecture and the restored areas, including the castle chapel and the Donjon.

• Hôtel de Sully (residence), approx. 5.4 km away
• Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral (sacred building), approx. 6.3 km away
• Palais du Luxembourg (residence), approx. 7.2 km away
• Palais du Louvre (palace), approx. 7.4 km away