Domaine Départemental de Sceaux

Built in the 17th century for Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV's minister of finance, this 180-hectare estate offers up magnificent vistas created by André Le Nôtre, the celebrated gardener of Louis XIV. The most beautiful view, perpendicular to the Château, overlooks a hill that slopes down in terraces, from pond to pond, towards the Octagonal Basin. Everything here exudes classicism, from the conical yews bordering the lawns to the box hedging – with the exception of the sculptures by Auguste Rodin, which ornament the Great Waterfall.

Christmas at Sceaux

**From 10 December to 5 January Animal Christmas is coming to the Château, transforming it into a winter forest filled with animals. This year, the master of the house, Marlamain, the Duchess of Maine's beloved cat, returns to live at the estate, and invites young visitors to follow the trail of his furry little inhabitants. Will you be as cunning as a fox or as clever as a monkey to unearth their secret hiding place? Under a chest of drawers, behind the piano or even inside paintings, they're everywhere!

From 13 to 15 December, with Les Grandes Heures de Sceaux, the estate with its prestigious history will be hosting musical tours, inviting music lovers and the simply curious to listen out for opera arias and Christmas carols.
Shows will be staged in the museum, where tours will be punctuated by magic tricks. Parents and children will also be able to make little characters inspired by the works to decorate their homes.

A 17th-century decor

At the heart of the park, the Museum of the Domaine Départemental de Sceaux distributes its collections across four sites. The current Château, built during the Second Empire, is dedicated to the history of Paris and its surrounding areas from the 17th to the mid-20th century. Original buildings from Colbert’s time include the Dawn Pavilion, which contains one of the finest works by the great 17th-century artist Charles Le Brun. The Orangery, built in the late 17th century by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, is home to many of the sculptures that ornamented the garden in Colbert’s era, and is also used for concerts. Finally, the sober lines of the 17th-century Stables include two temporary exhibition galleries, a multimedia space and a book and gift shop. To round off your visit, the Trévise restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.

To discover the park in a different way, take advantage of the boats that you can hire from April to October and sail along the one kilometre long Grand Canal.

Discover the Domaine de Sceaux through one of the treasure hunts in the Paris Region Adventures application specially designed for families and downloadable free of charge.

Would you like to discover other French gardens ? Go to Vaux-le-Vicomte or to Champs-sur-Marne.