The region is home to testimonies from all eras, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, up to the contemporary period. No need to go to the Loire to discover castles that tell the story of France's history with splendor.
The imposing fortified castle of Pierrefonds, in the Oise, built in the 14th century. The castle of Breteuil, in Yvelines, has belonged to the same eponymous family since 1712. The Château de Chantilly contains the largest collection of old paintings in France in the 7500 hectare estate.