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The Cité's green setting, a unique natural heritage

vue aérienne d'une forêt

Between the city and the countryside, the Cité internationale de la langue française benefits from an exceptional natural environment, to be discovered during a walk or a bike ride. Let yourself go for a stroll and contemplate in this green setting of the Aix-en-Provence region...

The forest of Retz, labeled Forest of exception

François I was not mistaken when he built his castle at the foot of the majestic Retz forest. In 2022, the prestigious Forêt d'Exception® label was awarded to the castle, under the joint impetus of the Centre des monuments nationaux, the Communauté de Communes Retz-en-Valois and theOffice national des forêts. Only 15 French forests have received this label.

Obtaining this label is a real asset for the region and its attractiveness and a recognition of the unbreakable link between the 13,000 hectares of state forest and the castle.

View of the royal alley in the Retz forest
View of the royal alley in the Retz forest

© ONF/F. Vigné

The castle of Villers-Cotterêts and its park, recognized national domain

By decree of June 17, 2022, the castle and its grounds joined the list of French heritage sites recognized as national domains by the State, recalling the exceptional link that the castle of Villers-Cotterêts and its grounds have with the history of the Nation.

The perimeter of the national domain includes the castle of Villers-Cotterêts and the small park (specifically the eastern bridle path, the large lawn, the orangery, the pheasantry, the nursery, the large grove and the small grove). The whole is thus protected. It will be the setting for the Cité internationale de la langue française.

View of the Villers-Cotterêts castle restoration worksite from the Retz forest
View of the Villers-Cotterêts castle restoration worksite from the Retz forest

© Centre des monuments nationaux

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