Paris Zoological Park
Young and old can once again rub shoulders with nature and wild animals. The Vincennes zoo has reopened since June 8. Immediate boarding for a world tour of biodiversity Through the 5 biozones of the animal park (Amazonia-Guyana, Europe, Madagascar, Patagonia and Sahel-Sudan) set off to meet some 190 species and more than 2,500 animals (giraffes, rhinos, wolves, manatees ...). You will also find newborns during confinement. No less than 35 pink Flemish birds, ibis) and 27 small mammals (baboons, meerkats) were born.
Read also: Can you recognize the unusual animals of the Paris zoo?
Paris Zoological Park . Avenue Daumesnil (12th). Daily from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Chateau de Chantilly
Thirty-five kilometers from Paris, nothing could be simpler than trying to get away from the Château de Chantilly. Since it reopened on May 21, the residence of the Princes of Condé and the Duke of Aumale has been breathing. And visitors will be amazed ...
The estate, always mowed with fresh air, embraces an incredible horizon, which can sometimes make dizzy for little Parisians confined for more than two months in the capital.
The castle and its temporary exhibitions can also be visited, in particular "Fable and bibliophily" and especially that on Raphaël, which was unfortunately closed 5 days after its opening.
Also read: 10 castles and their surroundings to visit this weekend in Île-de-France
With a reconfigured tour circuit allowing the public not to cross paths, the vice-president of the Chantilly estate Christophe Tardieu explains that everything is going for the best. "We ask all our visitors to wear a mask and alcoholic gel dispensers are available ," he says. The number of people in the castle is limited to 350 and regulation so far is done naturally. The validation by the prefecture of these measures and of our project was fairly quick to obtain. ”
The other good news is the reopening of the park on June 2 which gives access to beautiful walks in an area of 115 hectares. It is advisable for families to sacrifice for the ride in an electric “cart”. In this way, playful and pleasant, we discover without much difficulty the Small Park, the enclosure of the kangaroos and the apiaries, without forgetting the big waterfall (and its dragonflies), or the absolutely charming Temple of Venus.
Chateau de Chantilly . 7 rue du Connétable, Chantilly (60). Tel: 03 44 27 31 80. Every day except Tuesday from 10h to 18h.
Chantilly castle Sophie Lloyd
Royal domain of Marly
Opened on January 18, 2020 after three years of work, the frustration was great not to be able to have access to the restored domain for only two months. All the objects, paintings, engravings, models ... presented immerse us in the intimacy of Louis XIV, the emblematic character of the place. "I made Versailles for the Court, Marly for my friends ...".
A room is dedicated to entertainment. We learn the adventure of the Marly Horses but also the mechanism of the Marly machine which made so many admirers. We marvel at the hanging of Don Quixote commissioned by Louis XV for Marly and a thousand other objects, symbols of a splendor that ended the revolution. Because of the virus, the virtual reality headset which made it possible to penetrate inside the apartments of Louis XIV, to rub shoulders with the king in his place of life, to live the eclipse of sun of May 3, 1715, is replaced by a similar experience but on the big screen ...
Access is limited to 45 people simultaneously with gauges per space allowing to regulate the flows, compulsory mask, respect the gestures of protection, hydroalcoholic gel ...
Do not stop at the visit of the museum, but take advantage of the 54 ha of the domain for a walk. A treasure hunt (Geocaching) can be downloaded via an application offered by the museum. Two starting points are available: from the museum or from the Marly-le-Roi tourist information office (BIT).
Royal domain of Marly . Marly-le-Roi (78).
The mechanism of Marly's machine. Domaine de Marly
Chaalis Abbey
In the heart of the Ermenonville forest dear to Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Gérard de Nerval, the Chaalis abbey conceals many treasures. The remains and ruins of the old abbey church and the Sainte-Marie chapel remind visitors of the abbey's primary vocation. Nélie Jacquemart-André's museum and the perfume workshops are still closed to the public. You can nevertheless walk and picnic around the ruins and in the romantic park.
Read also: The thousand facets of Chaalis Abbey
Chaalis Abbey. Fontaine-Chaalis (60). Phone: 03 44 54 04 02.
Abbaye de Chaalis (60) Franck Prignet / Le Figaro Magazine
Dampierre castle
Head to the Yvelines to discover the magnificent green spaces of the Château de Dampierre. Reopened since May 30, the building may well be getting a makeover behind scaffolding, these surroundings, parks and gardens remain accessible to all walkers in search of trees and fresh grass. "We have never had so many visitors who love to walk barefoot on the lawn!" »Declares, amused, Pascal Thévard, the director of the château. "After this confinement, we observed that our visitors came mainly to breathe the fresh air and discover this private domain from a natural and less historical point of view". The 90 hectares of gardens, signed Le Nôtre for the French part, royally rub shoulders with the 7 hectares of ponds, the 350-meter canal and the 1.5-kilometer shaded course for a most bucolic stroll. While the youngest will try to solve the enigma of the disappearance of the gardener the day before the visit of King Louis XV, others will be able to board a horse-drawn carriage to discover the 400 hectares of the estate. A kiosk of snacks exclusively favoring the short circuit also offers something to have fun on the picnic areas in the heart of this vast area of the Dukes of Chevreuse and Luynes.
Castle of Dampierre. 2 Grande Rue, 78720 Dampierre-en-Yvelines. Entrance 10 euros. Horse-drawn carriage ride 10 euros.
Chateau de Dampierre Domaine de Dampierre