Château de Villette

Did François Mansart ever imagine his Château de Villette would become a haven for Hollywood stars centuries later? Here we stand before Château de Villette, a magnificent structure just a short jaunt from Paris. It’s not just a château; it’s a piece of living history. Designated a historical landmark in 1942, Château de Villette whispers tales of elegance and French “art de vivre.” The original architect, François Mansart, began this masterpiece. His great-nephew, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, finished it. Jules also happened to be the chief architect of Louis XV and oversaw the construction of Versailles. Perhaps this explains why Château de Villette earned the endearing nickname “Le Petit Versailles.” The gardens here are a testament to the genius of André Le Nôtre, the same landscape architect who designed the gardens at Versailles. Spread across 75 hectares, these grounds boast two serene lakes, a cascading fountain, and even a glass house and orangery. Château de Villette wasn’t just a beautiful building. It was a hub of intellectual discourse in the 18th century. Sophie de Grouchy, a renowned salon hostess, and her husband, the Marquis de Condorcet, welcomed leading thinkers like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine within these walls. Centuries later, the château continues to attract notable figures. Celebrities such as John Travolta, Tom Cruise, and Lenny Kravitz have sought sanctuary within its walls. Author Dan Brown found inspiration here, penning “The Da Vinci Code” within the château’s historic walls. The film adaptation even used the château as a filming location. This grand estate has also graced the silver screen in films like “Sky Fighters” (2005) and the television miniseries “La Mante” (2017).