MARTIN ANTONIO

Château de Compiègne Visited during “siesta o’clock” and had the whole château almost to ourselves — even free entry! Beautiful antique furniture, detailed curation, and impressive artwork made it a joy to explore. The stuffed bear was unforgettable, if bittersweet. Peaceful, elegant, and far less crowded than France’s bigger attractions. Château de Compiègne Visité pendant « l’heure de sieste » — entrée gratuite et le château presque rien que pour nous ! Superbes meubles anciens, une curation détaillée et des œuvres d’art impressionnantes. L’ours empaillé reste inoubliable, quoique un peu triste. Paisible, élégant, et bien moins bondé que les grandes attractions françaises. Our visit to the Château de Compiègne was an unexpected highlight of our trip. We arrived during what I can only assume was “siesta o’clock,” which meant free entry — already enough to put a smile on my face. What followed was even better: we practically had the entire château to ourselves. Wandering through the grand rooms with only a handful of other visitors made the experience feel special, almost as if we’d been granted private access. The château is beautifully curated, with antique furniture and decorative pieces that help bring the history of its former occupants to life. Each room had thoughtful detail and context, particularly around the artefacts and artwork on display. The art collection was a real highlight, with paintings and sculptures that gave a vivid sense of the château’s past. And then there was the stuffed bear — unusual, slightly out of place, and somehow memorable. I couldn’t help but admire it while also feeling a little sad for the unfairness of its death. Overall, the Château de Compiègne offered a far more relaxed and authentic cultural experience compared to some of France’s more famous attractions. With fewer crowds, a strong sense of history, and a beautifully maintained collection, it’s a place I’d recommend wholeheartedly.

Wonderful place to see, rich in history and beauty - not very expensive.

I absolutely loved the chateau of compiegne. It is similar to the ones in paris yet it is not crowded at all, you can enjoy seeing the pieces and the arts without having to clamor with the hundreds of other tourists. It is quaint with parking space in front of it and gardens that are free in the back. Great experience and the ticket lady was super friendly, so was the lady at the security check.

The Château de Compiègne is a remarkable place, rich in history and charm. Each room tells a story, offering a fascinating glimpse into France’s royal past. Excellent value for money, and the fact that children can enter for free makes it even more appealing for families. A truly memorable visit that I would highly recommend.

This was the real highlight of our holiday in the area, we visited three times in total! So many things to see in the apartments, we also enjoyed a meal in the rose garden cafe on two days.

The gardens are quite nice and the apartments were very baroque, empire style which is to be expected.

I was there on a rainy day, so it was perfect to see. It is very charming you also get a free audio guide. It cost €10. In the basement, there is a cool selection of horse carriages and some very interesting oldtimers.

Very beautiful site. For just €7.50 you get access to three museums within the palace, i.e. the residence rooms, the empress museum and the national car museum. I think they are all worth seeing, in particular the first two with beautiful paintings and tapestries and other artworks. Car museums are not quite my thing usually but this one is not too big and you get to see historic coaches and bikes which are quite funny. Then you can freely access the park which offers some really nice shaded spaces and lawns and boasts a beautiful rose garden. I really liked this visit!