(Last Update: 11.09.2024) It is one of the castles that should be visited first around Paris. Château de Compiègne – Compiegne CastleThis time we will get to know all together. Compiegne Castle is about 80 kilometers north-east of Paris., another region one Picardie Region'S Oise Departmentdepends on Compiègne (conpienAn important palace located in the city/town of )
Even though we talk about it as a castle Palais de Compiègne – Palace of Compiègne It is also referred to as. As I mentioned in my other castle articles, the French call palaces and castles "château", and although some of them are like the medieval castles we imagine, they are more like "château fort".castle for or castle seal) is called . The ones we consider as palaces are also called châteaus.
The kings of France, like the Ottoman emperors, were not satisfied with a single palace in the capital city; they attached a castle or a palace to almost every place they found. The most important ones around Paris as imperial castles Palace of Versailles, Palace of Fontainebleau and is known as the Compiegne Palace. Loire Valley Castles if between Chambord Castle, Amboise Castle ve Blois Castle comes to the fore.
They lived, but it's up to us to visit and see... Fortunately, with the French Revolution, most of the palaces were opened to the public and their gardens and parks were opened to use. With the ups and downs between republic and monarchy after the French Revolution, this place lost its status as a palace several times and then regained it. It was even used as a school for a while and a hospital for a while.
Compiegne Castle dates back to the fifth and sixth centuries but the history of the castle that stands before you now. with the 18th century We need to relate. Compiegne Castle has undergone a lot of change and transformation during this period.
In fact, although it is a very large palace, Compiegne Castle does not look that magnificent and imposing when viewed from the outside. Likewise in London Buckingham Palace It also seems very unpretentious to me. Now modesty I don't know if we should call it an aesthetic failure, but it seems that other elements were given more importance than magnificence in this palace. The reason why I love this castle is completely different; I will talk about it towards the end of the article.
After the French Revolution in 1789 Napoleon Bonaparte He gives instructions for the restoration of the Compiegne Castle during the period of the 1st empire. Yes in french history head of the republic There is an interesting process that develops when a soldier who came to power declares himself king.. In fact, we need to learn this process very well. Afterwards, the throne comes and goes, then their successors come and again the republic, again the kingdom, again the republic; The fight for the throne never ends.
One thing I understand very well while wandering around the leaves of history and such structures that bear witness to that history is that none of us have even as much value as one of the stones in these palaces. What is important is that these palaces are built and that power is kept in the hands of someone. We are just looking for branches to hold ourselves on to in this chaotic environment with certain feelings of belonging. Anyway, these are very complicated issues.
To reach Compiegne Castle from Paris Gare du NordTake the train from Compiegne You have to get off at the station. This is Paris's 5th areasValid in and around Paris, as it is another region outside the transportation map. navigate and other similar transportation cards This is not available on trains, so you have to buy a separate ticket from the vending machines at the station.
Travel time We can say it is between 40 and 90 minutes. Because not all trains stop at the same stations, this is the reason for the price and time difference. As I always say, please make sure to check whether the train you will take stops in Compiègne.
After arriving at Compiègne station, you can reach the castle via a beautiful route with a 10-minute walk. free bus You can easily come with .
as a matter of fact The most practical and beautiful way Arriving in Compiègne with your own vehicle. driving in paris It's a pain, but driving around Paris is like a dream. It will be a much more unforgettable trip, especially if you reach here by following the tiny villages, endless fields, and roads tunneled by trees, rather than by highway or toll road.
Compiegne Castle Open to visitors every day of the week except Tuesday. Please also note that it is closed on public holidays on January 1, May 1, and December 25. Visiting hours vary from section to section.
Castle Entry is free for visitors under the age of 26. Moreover first Sunday of every month I would like to remind you that Compiegne Castle can be visited free of charge. But the rules may change from time to time; That's why. It is useful to access and check current information, periodical exhibitions and all other details from the official web page link at the end of the article.
The part of Compiegne Castle that can be visited as a museum basically consists of three parts.. The first section will be the suites where you can trace the traces of the Napoleon Bonaparte period. While visiting this section, you also pass through halls with temporary exhibitions. For example, this castle of ours July 2016During our visit to , there was a very nice bicycle exhibition.
Afterwards, you continue your tour among the familiar (but impressive no matter what) halls of the French aristocracy, surrounded by gold leaf, ostentatious ornaments and equally magnificent paintings. One of the rooms I remember from the castle is the one you see in the photo above. Napoleon Bonaparte's bedroom. The section where this bedroom is located was damaged in a major fire in 1919, so the ceiling decorations have not survived to the present day.
One of the impressive halls of the castle is the large hall you see in the photo above. Palace of VersaillesAlthough not as impressive as the Hall of Mirrors in , this is also a very impressive place. Today, we can walk around on these parquet floors and even sit on the ground when allowed, but we are just passers-by. Even though the owners of the castle have also passed away from the world stage, they sat more than any of us Here…
One of the most impressive rooms in the castle is Napoleon Bonaparte's second wife, the empress, whom he married in order to add nobility to himself. Marie-Louise from Austria's bedroom. Maybe I wouldn't want to sleep in such a room, but it is very enjoyable to be in this room and examine the details. In fact, I love this room so much. Accommodation in Paris I wrote on Where to Stay in Paris I found it appropriate to use this place as the cover photo in my articles for years 😉
This is your palace feminine The episode is a little more sumptuous. This section, decorated with wall paints in fuchsia tones, gold leaf, delicate objects, sculptures, busts and aesthetic art objects and furniture, consists of several rooms.
As you move into the inner sections, the environment becomes more secluded and you can imagine yourself alone in this palace and communicate in a different dimension with the paintings, especially with the eyes looking at you from centuries ago in the portraits. However, the intensity of the gilding does not cause much fatigue when added to the length of your trip.
Of course, when visiting such places, we should not evaluate them with today's aesthetic understanding. Although looking at today's interior architecture movements, one cannot easily decide which one is more beautiful, but this excessive ornament of the aristocracy can only be acceptable due to its endless contributions to the history of art. Otherwise, it is a separate matter of debate whose sweat is the reward for the wealth spent on so much ostentation.
Still, it is important that this cultural heritage is preserved. We do not need such palaces anymore, nor should we, but together we witness how these rare works that have survived from the aristocratic period of history are successfully protected by the French, who are the heirs of a tremendous cultural wealth. In this context, they cannot be proud enough of themselves.
When it comes to Ottoman History, we only know the palaces in Istanbul. It is also unique in terms of size and spread over a wide area. Topkapi palace I think it competes with other palaces. Although Dolmabahçe Palace is a very ornate palace, after seeing the palaces in Europe, one realizes how small it is. Of course, its biggest advantage is that it is located on the shores of a magnificent Bosphorus.
However, apart from the palaces in Istanbul, we don't have much left. Once in Edirne, Edirne PalaceI went to see , I remember a flat meadow, a bridge; I was heartbroken. Later first capital BursaI think of , there is no palace or anything there either. something…; Fortunately, a few valuable Ottoman artifacts have survived to the present day. If you don't preserve your history, you don't have roots. If you don't have roots, what you produce today is left around as rootless, aestheticless things. After a while, that lack of aesthetics becomes popular and appreciated... Anyway...
Compiegne Castle, Louvre Museum as, Palace of Versailles as, Fontainebleau Castle It is one of the tiring museums to visit. Our usual problem is that, on the one hand, a serious physical effort is required to overcome the huge halls and corridors, and on the other hand, the cultural and artistic interaction we are exposed to becomes very tiring after a while.
Perhaps having to spend a day in front of a painting only taking one look at it and focusing on the next object can be a serious emotional burden, especially for people with high perception who can establish a deep bond with such works. That's why visiting Compiegne Castle can exhaust you after a while. Therefore, try to adjust your strength well, we still have a lot of places to visit.
In the next part of your trip, the last king of France, III. NapoleonWe see 's bedroom. Then again, there are halls, libraries, stairs, sculptures, paintings and beautiful art objects.
In fact, if you look, there is also a castle inside the Compiegne Castle, which is also included in the ticket you buy. Automobile Museum There is, but I visited this museum on my first visit. July 2016When I was there, this section was closed due to restoration work. By the way, this is such a beautiful museum that a separate article could be written just about this museum. Because inside there are valuable horse carriages, bicycles, automobiles and even race cars.
For example, take the photo you see above to Compiègne. October 2013I took it on my first visit to . It's a racing car and it's electric. This electric racing car was built in 1899 -unbelievable- full on time 100 kilometers He was speeding! What were the French dealing with while we were dealing with it at that time? Really, what are we dealing with now?
You can find this and other beautiful historical vehicles together. Automobile Museum It is an episode that you will really enjoy. If If automobiles are your special interest by all means, on the French border with Switzerland. Mulhouse located in the city City of the AutomobileI recommend you to visit also. No Such Thing…
After finishing our indoor tour, we go outside for fresh air. The garden of Compiegne Castle is quite large like other castles, but as far as I understand, it was left untouched by André Le Nôtre, France's famous garden landscaper in history. That's why this place is more a normal park in the mood; so embroidered, ornate, shaped schematic It doesn't have much of a design. Still, it's definitely worth a visit. It looks like a modest garden, but it doesn't seem endless. Because full 700 hectares...
There is an entrance to the park where you can see the end, that is, at the opposite end of the castle, and after that it is the forest. The castle's garden opens at 08:00 in the morningIt closes in the evenings at 19:00 in the summer and at 17:00 in the winter. The garden is open to everyone and free of charge.
Formerly in the garden of the castle orangeryThere was a great cafe in , but I think to the pandemic It was defeated and closed. However, I know that I went here just to eat dessert and drink tea. Unfortunately, there are no more. Okay, what should we do? Whatever we experience, we get away with it. Of course, the Orangerie is still standing, I hope a new place is opened there so that you can enjoy it even if it is different when you go.
When you leave the garden of the castle, if you turn your back to the main entrance and start walking, you will reach the center of Compiégne. This is a very beautiful town like Versailles, there are plenty of eating and drinking options and I think it will be quite lively on a day other than Sunday. If you try to get lost in the side streets as well as the streets, you can see with your own eyes how people live in heavenly places and peaceful environments.
Compiegne Castle is a magnificent medieval castle located just nearby. Château de Pierrefonds – Pierrefonds CastleI don't know if you want to add . In my opinion, each of the castles can be visited and digested on separate days; While you are here, it may seem wise to see this castle, which is 15-20 minutes away, but it will be tiring, let me tell you from the beginning. One gets very tired both physically and mentally when visiting such large, magnificent castles. But if you have no other choice, why not? Especially A Week in Paris If you are going to visit, I'm not sure if Compiegne Castle should be on the list, but 15 Days in Paris If you are going to visit, I think you should definitely see this place…
Yes, with this article, I have completed the priorities of the must-see castles around Paris and listed them all below. Let's see how many of them you can visit 😉 Oh, and in addition, it is a little further away from Paris. Loire Valley Castles There are also legendary ones... Men built it, lived it, protected it, kept it alive; It's up to you to write to me and go and visit.
Pleasant trips, pleasant discoveries.
Web address: chateaudecompiegne.fr
Other Castles in and Around Paris:
- Louvre Museum – Musée du Louvre
- Palace of Versailles – Château de Versailles
- Vincennes Castle – Château de Vincennes
- Saint Germain Castle – National Archaeological Museum
- Fontainebleau Castle – Château de Fontainebleau
- Chantilly Castle – Château de Chantilly
- Pierrefonds Castle – Château de Pierrefonds
- Vaux le Vicomte Castle – Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
- La Roche Guyon Castle – Château de la Roche-Guyon
- Castle of Monte Cristo – Château de Monte-Cristo
- Malmaison Castle – Château de Malmaison
- Maisons Laffitte Castle – Château de Maisons-Laffitte
For Those Who Love Castle Tours:
