Val-de-Marne, south-east of Paris, takes its name from the River Marne, which flows right through it, creating waterside landscapes once favoured by rowers and Impressionist artists. This department in the inner suburbs of Paris is home to several historic residences that bear witness to the appeal these green banks held for the aristocracy and bourgeoisie of the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Château de Vincennes, straddling Paris and Val-de-Marne, extends its fortifications and grounds across both departments. The Grosbois estate, in Boissy-Saint-Léger, is one of the finest residences in the department: a 17th-century château that belonged to Barras and later to Marshal Berthier, it now houses the headquarters of French trotting and its horse racing museum. Sucy-en-Brie, Mandres-les-Roses, the Grange du Milieu in Chevilly-Larue… all places that invite you to discover the rural and aristocratic heritage of this inner suburb.