Free walking tours in Maisons-Laffitte and what to see

Must-sees

Maisons-Laffitte is north-west of Paris, in a loop of the Seine next to the Saint-Germain-en-Laye forest. Its great monument is the Château de Maisons, the work of François Mansart, built in the mid-17th century for René de Longueil. It is run by the Centre des monuments nationaux. Highlights inside are the grand staircase, which winds around a central well, the king’s apartment and the salons decorated in the time of the Count of Artois.

The town’s full name comes from the banker Jacques Laffitte, who bought the estate in the 19th century and divided the château’s old park into plots to build houses among the trees. Today that park is a protected residential district of tree-lined avenues and villas, well worth a quiet stroll. Maisons-Laffitte is known as the city of the horse: around the park there are tracks and stables where racehorses train, and it is common to come across them on the avenues early in the morning.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in Maisons-Laffitte. What Civitatis offers is a ticket for the Château de Maisons, which you visit at your own pace, taking in the staircase, the apartments and the views towards the Seine. You can walk around the park and the stable avenues on your own. Paris is easy to reach on the RER A, so many visitors combine it with Saint-Germain-en-Laye on the same day.

How long to spend

Allow an hour and a half for the château. Add another hour or hour and a half to walk around the park, see the villas and visit the training tracks, and a bit more if you want to stroll along the Seine. Half a day is enough. With a full day you can add Saint-Germain-en-Laye, with its château and terrace above the valley, or cycle a stretch along the Seine.

Where to stay

Maisons-Laffitte has few hotels, with some small hotels and rooms in private homes near the station and in the park. It is a quiet base for visiting Paris, as the RER A gets you to the centre quickly. If you can’t find anywhere, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a few minutes away, has more hotels and a lively centre. If your trip centres on Paris, you can stay in the capital and come on a half-day trip.