Renaissance treasures in Ecouen and its castle

Walk through the historic streets of the charming village of Ecouen before reaching its heights and discovering one of the most beautiful monuments in the Val d'Oise, the Castle of Ecouen, just 20 minutes by train from Paris.

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A must-see in the Paris region

Built in the 16th century by Anne de Montmorency, a close friend of King François I and later of his son Henri II, the castle takes visitors back to its origins.

After housing a military prison, a hospital and the Legion of Honor, the castle became the French National Renaissance Museum in 1977.

Since then, the splendid building has offered visitors the chance to discover many of the wonders of the Renaissance. Its sumptuous architecture has spanned the centuries from the Renaissance to the present day.

The only museum dedicated to the Renaissance in France

Through temporary and permanent exhibitions, many of the works on display at the Castle are examples of this exceptional work: the tapestry masterpiece “David and Bathsheba”, emblematic paintings of the French Renaissance, and the ship-shaped clock whose mechanism fires a cannon every hour.

The Castle, the only museum dedicated to the Renaissance period in France, celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2022 ! Throughout the year, it offers a varied program designed for all kinds of visitors: families, schools, art and history enthusiasts and the simply curious.