Nestling in a small valley in Dampierre-en-Yvelines, the estate of the Château de Dampierre covers nearly 400 hectares, at the heart of the Chevreuse Valley. Built in the 17th century by the architect of the Palace of Versailles, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, it was owned by the Luynes family for four centuries before being sold in 2018 to Franky Mulliez, the founder of Kiloutou and a lover of art and architecture.
The building, surrounded by a moat, has been a listed Historic Monument since 2022 and is enhanced by its superb French formal gardens designed by André le Nôtre. The English-style park, dotted with ponds and canals, lies behind the island where a magnificent 18th-century pavilion stands.
Although visitors won't be able to go inside the château until 2025, you can look at the exterior on your own or on a guided tour. You can take a horse-drawn carriage ride to discover the estate's gardens and woods. The guided tour "The Story of Dampierre" ("Raconte-moi Dampierre") and the fun guided walk entitled "The Copse of Dreams" ("Le Bosquet des Chimères") showcase the site's rich historical, architectural and environmental heritage. Since 2022, "The dragonflies' path" has offered a discovery trail for visitors to learn about the estate's history and its generous biodiversity. In the Gallery of Carriages, you can also admire several exceptional carriages that belonged to the Luynes family.
In July, an event called "Les Plaisirs de Dampierre" will take you back in time for a weekend, with performers in period costume re-enacting the time King Louis XV visited the château. Other events, such as an Easter egg hunt, open-air dances, the European Heritage Days and La Nuit des Châteaux (a chance to see the châteaux of France by night), are highlights of the estate's calendar between April and November.
