Vincennes castle (Chateau de Vincennes) description and photos - France: Paris (Topic)

Vincennes Castle (Chateau de Vincennes) description and photos - France: Paris. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Chateau de Vincennes.

Photo and description

The Vincennes castle, located in the southeastern suburb of Paris in the city of Vincennes, bears little resemblance to other castles in France - it is a gloomy battle citadel with a harsh history.

It all began from the hunting lodge of Louis VII, built on this very site around 1150. In the XIII century, thanks to the efforts of Philip Augustus and Louis IX the Saint, a castle appeared here. From here in 1270 Saint Louis set off on a fatal crusade for him - to convert the Sultan of Tunisia to Christianity. In Africa, the king fell ill and died. The weddings of Philip III and Philip IV were celebrated in the Vincennes castle; Louis X, Philip V Long and Charles IV died here.

The castle became a real defensive structure later, in the XIV-XV centuries. Philip VI built an impregnable donjon tower, Charles VI closed the perimeter of the outer walls. Completion of the construction came in time: during the religious wars of the 16th century, the castle became a prison. It was here that the future king and founder of the Bourbon dynasty, Henry IV, was imprisoned.

In the 17th century, Louis XIV set out to arrange his residence in the castle. The pavilions for the Queen Dowager and Cardinal Mazarin were built here according to the project of the architect Louis Leveaux. However, the king's attention turned to Versailles, the work was stopped. A century later, the kings left the castle completely. At one time there was the Vincennes Porcelain Manufactory, then again a prison. The Duke de Beaufort, the financier Nicolas Fouquet, the Marquis de Sade, the free-thinker Diderot and the politician Count Mirabeau were serving their sentences here.

In 1804, the phrase "Vincennes Castle" became for Europe a symbol of lawlessness and state violence. By order of Napoleon, on the night of March 14-15, 1804, the French dragoons made a lightning raid on the territory of the Duchy of Baden, where the French prince Duke of Enghien lived as an emigrant. The duke was captured, taken to France and shot in the castle moat early in the morning.

We also recommend reading Citrus Garden (Zitrusgarten in Faak am See) description and photos - Austria: Lake Faakersee

Topic: Vincennes castle (Chateau de Vincennes) description and photos - France: Paris.