Château de la Chasse

In the heart of the Montmorency forest, the Château de la Chasse is an unexpected curiosity some twenty kilometres from Paris. A fortified castle here is mentioned as early as the 9th century by Einhard, Charlemagne's biographer, and the present building, with its round towers and pointed roofs, bears the marks of many alterations, from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Its name is thought to come not from hunting, but from a Gaulish word meaning oak.

Listed as a historic monument since 1933, it is reflected in two tree-lined ponds. It is reached after a walk of about 800 metres along a forest track, from the car parks on the road between Montlignon and Bouffémont. The interior is not open, but the site is a walking destination much loved by families and hikers.

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