Château de Vincennes, situated 10 kilometers east of Paris, is one of France's best-preserved medieval fortresses, renowned for its 52-meter-high donjon, the tallest keep in Europe offering breathtaking views over Paris. Dating from the 12th century when Louis VII founded it as a royal manor, it evolved under Charles V in 1365 into a sophisticated royal dwelling housing art collections and manuscripts. The château's Sainte-Chapelle, begun in 1379, features remarkable decorative artistry representing Charles V's ambitious vision, while the keep served as a state prison housing notable figures like Fouquet and the Marquis de Sade until the royal residence relocated to Versailles in 1682.
