Office de Tourisme du Pays de Meaux

Tourist Information Office

Close to Paris, Pays de Meaux offers many tour and ride options. With a rich and varied heritage, all the tastes for discovery will be satisfied. You will also find the built, landscape, gastronomic or memorial heritage. Here is a small selection of what Pays de Meaux has in store for your next tour.

The history of Pays de Meaux was severely affected during the first world war

The circuit of the Champs de Bataille de la Marne will allow you to discover the numerous remembrance places that mark out the landscape. In order to pay tribute to the men and women of this conflict and to allow future generations understand the stakes of this war, the Musée de la Grande Guerre opened its doors in November 2011. Having the largest specific collection in Europe (more than 50.000 items) and the reconstituted trenches, this history and society museum proposes an immersion of the visitor into the everyday life of this deadly war.

The town of Meaux has a unique architectural heritage in Ile de France

At the heart of the town, the Episcopal City brings together around the Saint Etienne Cathedral a remarkably preserved architectural complex with a variety of architectural styles. The cathedral, the episcopal palace, the Gallo-Roman ramparts, the old chapter of the 12th century and the Bossuet garden, take the visitor into the glorious past of the town of Meaux.

Located at the heart of the Episcopal City, the Bossuet museum is dedicated to Fine Arts. In a quality architectural setting, important painting and sculpture masters, such as Millet, Floris ou Courbet, are present in contemporary art exhibitions. Around the City, wandering the colourful alleys of the old Meaux, you will find magnificent private hotels of the 17th and 18th centuries. Why not continue with a shopping stop in the boutiques of the pedestrian street at the heart of the town?

Finally, while moving away from the town centre and its activity, you can soak up all the nature, relaxation and more discoveries!

Meaux offers the largest urban natural park of Ile-de-France: the Pâtis park. On 150 hectares, various landscapes lie before your eyes: the ponds and banks of Marne, meadows, wooded areas... having a rich fauna and flora, the Pâtis park is a rare and preserved ecosystem.
In Trilbardou, a beautiful village of Pays de Meaux, you will discover the pumping factory launched in 1869. This pumping factory allowed to supplement water supplies from the Ourcq canal, thanks to its huge 11 meter wheel, referred to as the "Sagebien wheel". It stands as evidence of the technological progress of the 19th century in the field of hydraulic energy.
Finally, with the ruins of the Montceaux-les-Meaux castle, you will be guided by the political plots and royal love affairs. This castle has been successively governed by three important women of spirit. In fact, Henri II offered it to his wife, Catherine de Médicis, then Henri IV gave it to his favourite, Gabrielle d’Estrées, the almost-queen and, finally, Marie de Médicis recovered it when beautiful Gabrielle passed away. Abandoned, then destroyed in 1799 to be used as stone quarry, only the magnificent ruins of this lovely Renaissance castle have remained, but the intrigue and romance atmosphere are intact…

Opening and closing times

From 01/04 to 31/10 Opening hours daily between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. Closed exceptionally on May 1st.

From 01/11 to 31/03 Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Sunday between 2 pm and 5 pm. Closed on Monday. Closed exceptionally on January 1st and December 25th.