What to do in and around Compiègne this summer?
A holiday combining nature and culture
This summer, head to the Oise for a holiday full of discoveries. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the First and Second Empires at the Château de Compiègne, take a breath of fresh air in the Compiègne forest or culture at the Mémorial de l'Armistice... and wander through the narrow streets of a typical medieval village.
Visit the Château de Compiègne
The magnificent Château de Compiègne opens its doors to you for an imperial day out. Discover the flats of the Emperor and Empress and visit three museums:
- The Empress Museum
- The Second Empire Museum
- The National Car Museum
Without doubt the most famous château in the Oise!
Adults: €7.50 to €9.50. Free for under-26s and on the first Sunday of the month.
Cool off in the Forêt de Compiègne
France's third-largest state-owned forest (14,485 hectares), the Forêt de Compiègne boasts around a hundred kilometres of waymarked footpaths. Don't miss the Berceau de l'Impératrice (Empress's Cradle), the path that allowed Empress Marie-Louise (Napoleon I's wife) to walk discreetly from the château to the forest of Compiègne.
Other attractions include the Saint-Pierre ponds and the charming hunting lodge named Eugénie after Napoleon III's wife.
A historical pause at the Armistice Memorial
It was here, in the heart of the Forêt de Compiègne, that the Armistice of 11 November 1918 was signed.
The Armistice Memorial is a place of remembrance where you can visit the carriage in which this historic treaty was signed. The Armistice Memorial also has a number of rooms devoted to the two world wars.
Adults: €8, children (aged 7-18): €6
Stroll through the village of Saint-Jean-aux-Bois
There are several villages to discover in the heart of the Forêt de Compiègne. One of the prettiest is undoubtedly Saint-Jean-aux-Bois, a small, authentic medieval village. It is said that this is where the famous song "Les amants de Saint-Jean" was written!
You'll enter the town through a superb fortified gateway, before admiring the old abbey and the pretty houses in the rue des abbesses.
Your hotel near Compiègne
Make yourself comfortable at the Hôtel Les 2 Vallées, ideally placed for exploring the roads of the Oise and the area around Compiègne. Our 3-star hotel has a lot to offer:
excellent value for money for an affordable stay in the Oise region
- high-comfort facilities: queen-size bed (160cm) or two 90cm beds
- free Wi-Fi connection
- a copious and tasty breakfast with sweet and savoury products
- free parking
- evening snacks
