The Ile-de-France region hides some unsuspected nuggets. Among them is the Courances estate, hidden away in the Essonne department. Here you’ll discover a sublime 17ᵉ century chateau listed as a historic monument entirely surrounded by water. But that’s not all! The estate hides a major asset: a 75-hectare park that ranks among the most beautiful in France… An enchanted, bucolic interlude to indulge in for an afternoon!
An enchanting château on the outskirts of Paris
Built between 1622 and 1630 by Claude 1er Gallard, the château hasn’t always known happy days… Indeed, it was abandoned for many years before being taken over by Baron Samuel de Haber in 1872. The baron undertook many months of restoration work to restore the château to its former glory.
The château even underwent a minor makeover, adopting the architectural codes of the day. All facades were clad in red brick, typical of the Louis XVIII period. The Baron also added a horseshoe-shaped staircase, reminiscent of the one at Château de Fontainebleau.
We like to go there for its immense, bucolic and romantic park, along the Courance, which is the name of the river that runs alongside the entire estate… In fact, water is omnipresent here. There’s a river, fourteen springs and seventeen remarkable water features. You’ll also discover beautiful formal gardens, as well as a lovely Japanese garden that changes with the seasons. It’s no wonder that these gardens are even a magnet for cinema! The most observant will immediately recognize the garden, as it appears in The Count of Monte Cristo…
At the end of the day, we recommend you take a snack in the superb tearoom to enjoy the magic of the place to the full. A sublime estate that’s a must-see!
📍Location: 15, rue du Château 91490
📆Hours: Open Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 2pm to 6pm until November 2, 2025
💶Price for access to the gardens: 11€ full price
💶 Price for gardens + guided tour of château: €14 full price