young and old , and waiting in the centre of the maze is Old Mother Goose . Because there ’ s more to this château than just history and elegant gardens . For children , it ’ s pure magic . Charles Perrault was a famous fairy tale author from the 17th century , and a great friend of a long-dead lord of Breteuil , and scenes from eight of his most famous fairy tales can be found all over the outbuildings of the château grounds .
Look in on Cinderella in the stables getting dressed for the royal ball , watch out for the murderous Bluebeard , or keep an eye on Sleeping
Beauty in her enchanted slumber . And don ’ t forget to be on your guard when Little Red Riding Hood arrives at her grandmother ’ s cottage , the fearsome wolf is lurking .
There ’ s a fantastic playground in the grounds , with slides and climbing equipment , and benches in the shade if you want to bring your picnic lunch .
The Château de Breteuil is open throughout the year , but the fairy tales only on Sundays and in school holidays .
Discover Nature
If you love to get out and about in nature , there are hundreds of walking trails criss-crossing the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse , ranging from a few kilometres to an all-day hike .