About Château de Vincennes
Château de Vincennes is the eastern terminus of Line 1, depositing you directly in front of one of the finest surviving medieval royal fortresses in Europe. The keep - 52 metres tall, completed in 1369 - is the tallest medieval tower in the world still standing, and the adjacent Sainte-Chapelle de Vincennes is a stunning example of Flamboyant Gothic architecture, less famous than its Paris counterpart but equally remarkable. The château served as a royal residence, a state prison (Fouquet, Diderot and the Marquis de Sade were all held here) and a military installation.
The adjacent Bois de Vincennes, Paris's eastern forest park, covers 995 hectares with lakes, cycling paths, a botanical garden, a zoo and a flower garden with summer concerts.
Station Overview
Zone 1. Line 1 eastern terminus. No step-free access.
Travel Tips
- The Château's keep and Sainte-Chapelle are ticketed - book online to avoid queues
- Lac Daumesnil in the Bois de Vincennes (20-minute walk) has rowing boats and pedalo hire in summer
- The Parc Floral de Paris (botanical garden with summer concerts) is inside the Bois, free with paid admission
Nearby Attractions
Château de Vincennes - Directly outside. Medieval royal fortress with 52m keep and Gothic chapel. Admission charged; book online.
Bois de Vincennes - Immediately adjacent. 995-hectare forest park with Lac Daumesnil, cycling paths, zoo and Parc Floral. Free to enter the park.
Timings and Best Time to Travel
Standard Métro hours. The château opens at 10:00 Tuesday to Sunday. The Bois de Vincennes is most pleasant on weekday mornings and autumn weekends when the forest colours are exceptional.
Nearest Metro to Château de Vincennes
If you are heading to Château de Vincennes, Château de Vincennes is your closest metro stop on the Ligne 1. It also gives easy access to Bois de Vincennes and Lac Daumesnil. Use the fare calculator to plan your journey cost before you travel.
Stations on This Line
Traveller Tips
- 1Château de Vincennes (medieval castle with 52m keep) is directly outside - admission charge for keep and chapel
- 2Bois de Vincennes is Paris's eastern forest park - rent bicycles or rowing boats on the Lac Daumesnil
- 3The Parc Floral de Paris (botanical garden and summer concerts) is inside the Bois
- 4Line 1 is fully automated - short, frequent trains with no waiting
Accessibility
Step-free access information is limited for this station. Contact the Paris Metro helpline for assistance planning your journey.