Château de Villette

Located 40 minutes away from the center of Paris, Château de Villette is one of the most remarkable châteaux in France, classified as a historical landmark since 1942 by the French government. Set in a 75ha woodland park, with two lakes, a magnificent cascade fountain, a glass house and orangery, not to mention the incredibly lavish interiors, Chateau de Villette epitomizes elegance, luxury and the famous French expression “art de vivre”. Originally designed by architect François Mansart for the Count of Aufflay and later completed by his great-nephew, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, chief-architect of Louis XV, who also oversaw the construction of Château de Versailles at the same time. Similarly, the splendid garden of Château de Villette was designed by André Le Nôtre, who also created the famous gardens of Château de Versailles. Thus, it has earned the name Le Petit Versailles (the Little Versailles). Historically, the 18th is considered as the heyday of Château de Villette. The owners of Château de Villette at the time, Sophie de Grouchy, a prominent salon hostess, and her husband, Marquis de Condorcet, would invite the leading intellectuals such as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine to Château de Villette. In the modern times, Château de Villette has been the sanctuary for many celebrities like John Travolta, Tom Cruise and Lenny Kravitz. It has been a source of inspiration for Dan Brown who wrote the “Da Vinci Code” while staying at the Chateau and was later used a filming location for its adaptation.