Online dictionary of France travel and tourism: Vincennes castle

French words: Château de Vincennes
alternative words: Vincennes, Château de Vincennes, Chateau Vincennes
keywords: castle , paris , paris suburb , tourist resort
related topics: Versailles palace , Bois de Vincennes
related web sites: http://www.mairie-vincennes.fr/z_visiter_files/r_22_chateau/index.html?=r_22_chateau.html , http://www.boisdevincennes.com/site/chateau.php3
explanation: There had existed already a hunting lodge for King Louis VII in 12th century at the eastern limit of Paris. In 1337, Philippe VI built a huge donjon in order to defend Paris from English invaders. During the 100 Years' War against England, French kings took refuge in Loire region by giving up Paris, so Vincennes castle. It was King Louis XI who returned back first to Vincennes in the late 15th century. King Louis XIV added pavilions of king and of queen before leaving for Versailles in 1682.