The castle, located 35 km from Paris in the picturesque Chevreuse valley, has more than four centuries of history. Since the early 18th century, its fate has been linked to the life and activities of the Marquis de Bretay, to whom it still belongs today.
First ministers and just ministers, celebrities, extraordinary and ordinary people, the Marquis de Bretay served the kings and queens of France…. Walking through the magnificently furnished salons of the castle, you will learn about the mysterious history of the necklace with pendants that cast a shadow over Queen Marie Antoinette, as well as get acquainted with the fate of the first French female mathematician Émilie Châtelet, the muse and mistress of Voltaire. You will see wax figures of Marcel Proust and English King Edward VII – frequent guests of the castle, and admire the magnificent table made of semi-precious stones in Dresden and gifted to the marquis in the 18th century.
However, the “highlight” of the castle, what makes it a true “children’s kingdom”, is the numerous characters from Perrault’s fairy tales – the boots-wearing cats, of which there are many in the castle, Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb, Little Red Riding Hood… They inhabit the rooms of the castle, its outbuildings, and the park. For children in the castle – a paradise. They get acquainted with the life of the nobles of the 18th century, with their childhood, cradles, bathrooms… They can also participate in a game – to count all the boots-wearing cats (musicians, watchmakers, etc.) that inhabit the rooms…
A visit to Bretay is a true delight for children and adults!
