Free walking tours in Champs-sur-Marne and what to see

Must-sees

Champs-sur-Marne is about 18 kilometres east of Paris, beside the Marne. Its big attraction is the château, built in the early 18th century for Paul Poisson de Bourvallais, a financier of Louis XIV who ended up arrested for embezzlement. It then passed through several hands: the Dukes of La Vallière received Voltaire here, and Madame de Pompadour rented the estate from 1757 to 1759. At the end of the 19th century Count Louis Cahen d’Anvers bought it, restored it and furnished it in Belle Époque taste.

Inside, don’t miss the Chinese salon, decorated around 1748 by Christophe Huet with exotic scenes and restored after its ceiling collapsed in 2006. In 1935 the Cahen d’Anvers family gave the château to the State, and for decades it was used to host foreign heads of state on official visits. Outside, the park has recovered the formal French layout drawn by Claude Desgots, a pupil of Le Nôtre, with parterres, a long vista and groves that invite a stroll.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in Champs-sur-Marne. What you will find on Civitatis is a ticket for the château, which lets you explore the salons and the park on your own at your own pace. The monument itself also offers guided tours on certain dates. If you prefer to go with a guide, the practical option is to combine it with other visits from Paris, as the château is a short RER ride away.

How long to spend

The château takes a little over an hour to visit, and with the park it is best to allow half a day. You can get there from Paris on the RER A to Noisiel and walk or take a bus to the village. If you have the afternoon free, the Marne Valley has pleasant riverside walks, and Noisiel keeps the old Menier chocolate factory, which you can see from outside.

Where to stay

Champs-sur-Marne has little accommodation in the village itself, but it is well connected. You can stay in the Cité Descartes area, next to Noisy-Champs station, where there are practical hotels and aparthotels. If you prefer the buzz of the capital, simply stay in Paris near an RER A stop and make it a day trip. The area around Disneyland Paris, on the same line, also has plenty of choice.