Château de Vincennes, located in the southeastern suburbs of Paris in the town of Vincennes, a little reminiscent of other castles in France - a militant stronghold with gloomy harsh history.

It all started with the hunting lodge of Louis VII, built on this spot around 1150. In the XIII century the efforts of Philip Augustus and St. Louis IX came here for the castle. Hence, in 1270, St. Louis went to the fateful for him crusade - to pay the Sultan of Tunis to Christianity. In Africa, the king fell ill and died. In Vincennes castle to celebrate the wedding of Philip III and Philip IV, died here, Louis X, Philip V Long and Charles IV.

The real defensive building later became a castle in the XIV-XV centuries. Philip VI has built an impregnable tower-dungeon, Charles VI closed the perimeter of the exterior walls. Completion of construction appeared in time in time: during the religious wars of the XVI century the castle became a prison. It is held in custody future king and founder of the Bourbon dynasty, Henry IV.

In the XVII century Louis XIV set out to organize in the castle his residence. Designed by architect Louis Le Vau there were built Pavilions for Dowager Queen and Cardinal Mazarin. However, attention has shifted to the King of Versailles, work was stopped. A century later, the Kings finally left the castle. At one time there was a Vincennes porcelain factory, then a prison. Here incarcerated Duke de Beaufort, the financier Nicolas Fouquet, Marquis de Sade, Diderot and maverick politician Count Mirabeau.

In 1804, the phrase "Château de Vincennes" has become a symbol for Europe's state of lawlessness and violence. On the orders of Napoleon on the night of 14 to 15 March 1804 the French dragoons made a lightning raid into the territory of the Duchy of Baden, where he lived on the position of the French emigrant Prince Duke of Enghien. Duke captured, taken to France in the early morning shot in the moat of the castle.

In the XX century it was then executed the famous spy Mata Hari. At the end of the occupation the Germans shot at the fortress three dozen innocent hostages. Retreating Nazis blew up the pavilion of the king and of the casemates.

Historical Museum is a castle from 1934. Immediately after World War II began its restoration, it is now completely restored.