Audio GuideSceaux Departmental Estate

Domaine départemental de Sceaux is a historic estate where guests can immerse themselves in centuries of art, culture, and nature. Acquired in sixteen seventy by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, a prominent minister of King Louis the Fourteenth, the château and its sprawling gardens were designed with grandeur as the primary focus. The renowned landscape architect André Le Nôtre crafted the park with long avenues, formal terraces, graceful cascades, and a grand canal extending for approximately a kilometre. Later on, Colbert’s son embellished the estate with sculptures and further refined its layout.

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In the early eighteen hundreds, the estate blossomed into a vibrant social centre under the stewardship of individuals like Anne, Duchess of Maine. It became the venue for grand musical celebrations and gatherings that attracted famous thinkers and artists, including a young Voltaire. Despite facing neglect and partial destruction during the French Revolution, the estate was magnificently restored in the mid-nineteenth century by the duc de Trévise. The current château, constructed between the mid-eighteen fifties and early eighteen sixties, mirrors the style of the Louis the Thirteenth period and is accompanied by preserved outbuildings such as the orangerie and stables.

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In the present day, visitors are invited to explore the château and gardens, now home to the Musée de l’Île-de-France, which boasts a remarkable collection of paintings by Parisian artists. Open daily from sunrise to sunset and easily accessible via local RER stations, the estate plays host to cultural events, concerts, and sports activities. A guided tour promises an engaging account of its history, offering a chance to marvel at its timeless beauty and peaceful ambience.

Patrik Martin