Château de Bagatelle

In 1777, Marie-Antoinette bet her brother-in-law, the Count of Artois (future Charles X and brother of Louis XVI), that he could not transform the former hunting lodge into a beautiful château in under 100 days. He did so in just 64, winning the bet and launching a storied legacy of the charming Château de Bagatelle. Over the centuries, the château—the last royal residence built pre-revolution—passed through the hands of many famous owners (from Napoleon to Sir Richard Wallace) and played host to an array of royal affairs and engagements. In 1905, the City of Paris purchased the château, and its rehabilitation was entrusted to Jean-Claude-Nicolas Forestier, renowned curator of the gardens of Paris (also known for the rose garden of Bagatelle, where the famous rose competition takes place each June).

NOTE: The château is currently closed to the public while Fondation Mansart—an organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing French heritage—restores and redecorates the palace, adding masterpieces of 18th-century French art. Currently, on your own, you can only visit the palace’s exterior in the lovely Bois de Boulogne, but if you’d like a tour of the interior during the restoration process, your Indagare Trip Designer can assist. Château de Bagatelle is scheduled to officially reopen in Spring 2024.