Discovering the Château de Rambouillet

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The splendor that has become austere today

To change its medieval appearance, one of the wings of the castle was dynamited at Napoleon’s request. But one of the dungeons is preserved. Inside, the splendor of the different eras is still visible. It is certainly not the luxury of Versailles or modern palaces, but it allows you to imagine the comfort of personalities passing through.

For some, the living rooms could appear boorish, especially the bedrooms or some of the bathrooms. On the other hand, on entering the dining rooms, the opulence of the diplomatic receptions is obvious. Those visiting it will be able to see for themselves the table and the room hosting the first G6 summit under Valéry Giscard d’Estaing. The menu is always visible and the Pimprenelle de Sèvres porcelain service always present and ready to receive the guests.

The suites that received Presidents Gérald Ford, or at other times Boris Yeltsin, Nelson Mandela, Hosni Mubarak are still accessible. And it is in these that we notice the Spartan comfort of this old castle.
Presidents pass, the fortress endures. Despite the desire of most presidents to leave their mark, changes are taking place little by little. The royal hunts allowed Félix Faure to forge close ties with foreign rulers while renewing the style of the marble hall. In 1948, the room where François I would have died became the new apartment for foreign heads of state. Vincent Auriol, then president, attributes the decoration to Jean Pascaud and his still predominant style today.

What if the Château de Rambouillet once again became a presidential residence?

The secrets of the castle

President’s office

President Jacques Chirac liked to go there on certain weekends. Sometimes accompanied by his only grandson, Martin, the latter slept on several occasions between the office of the president and the room called the conjugal room or the room of Madame according to the leaders occupying the castle. The presidential office at the Château de Rambouillet. Photo: DR.

Double bedroom

Germaine Coty, the wife of René Coty, then president, died of a heart attack at 4:30 a.m. on November 12, 1955, in this room. It is the only time in the history of the Republic that a first lady dies during the mandate of her husband.

The conjugal room sometimes also called the room of Madame according to those who occupied the castle of Rambouillet. Photo DR.

Foreign Heads of State Apartment

This staircase goes up to the bedroom where François I is said to have died. But that’s another reason that prevented Boris Yeltsin from going up there. Due to an excess of alcohol by the Russian President, a cot had to be brought in so that he could spend the night in this room in October 1995.

The chiefs’ main apartment d’Etat foreigners from the Château de Rambouillet. Photo DR

The castle canal

It was in this channel that Paul Deschannels appeared naked, getting in the water at 6 a.m. on September 10, 1920. He would not have been aware of his act. Following this surprising event, the president tendered his resignation for medical reasons.

The tranquility of the Château de Rambouillet canal. Photo: Thomas Desprez.

The evolution of the place thanks to a diversification of activities

Seen from the roof of the castle, the 150-hectare estate, classified as a Remarkable Garden, invites you to discover a rich natural heritage and its canal. Photo: Thomas Desprez.

Reopened to the public since 2017 after two years of work, the castle is no longer a presidential residence. Since then, new events have brought the place back to life. Since his mandate, Nicolas Sarkozy preferring La Lanterne, a Versailles hunting lodge, the estate is no longer a presidential residence. In order not to leave the place abandoned, the center of national monuments has diversified the activities of the castle.
Every day, two visits are proposed and commented by a guide. Activities around the park and the castle are also offered.
Three times a month, the public has the opportunity to participate in a theatrical visit “Louise Vattel, a very talkative servant” in the form of a role-playing game where they must prepare to receive Emile Loubet, president between 1899 and 1906.

Every Thursday and Saturday, “The garden of the senses” allows you to discover the benefits and particularities of the plants in part of the estate’s gardens. A repotting workshop is suggested with the possibility of leaving with your own plant.
“Our gardeners have an ecological approach and take care of the area while incorporating new species”, informs Cléo Dupas in charge of welcoming schoolchildren and specific audiences. The place is increasingly open to local schools for thematic visits.

Boats and bicycles are available for rent near the canals. They will allow you to enjoy the area in complete peace of mind with a different perspective from that of the usual point of view. A “cultural bike ride” is also offered three times a month where a host will comment on the visit. Enough to satisfy the desires of children and parents alike.