Paris 2013 - Day Six Chateau de Vincennes

The Paris Metro is a wonderful experience and reaches to the far edges of the city and beyond. Whether you are off to Saint Denis or Vesailles - the rail provides an easy (although sometimes crowd) method of getting to your destination. Add Chateau de Vincennes to your list - the castle, prison and cathedral all sit conveniently at the end of Line 1. The prison has undergone a recent renovation and while stark - it is large and interesting. You will be surprised by the overall size of this walled city - often used by the Royals due to its fortifications and proximity to Paris. Today - the attraction is away from the crowds in the city center and boasts one of the best (and fairly priced) gift shops in the town. Thankfully - our Context Travel docent Annie-Christine Mathews (excellent for her work at the Louvre's new Islamic Wing) encouraged us to visit this medieval attraction located within minutes of the city center. It is covered by the Paris Museum Card. The site includes the military history museum which we skipped (exhausted) on this trip.

Location:Paris, France