The donjon de Vez :
An artistic immersion in an exceptional natural setting
A thousand years of history right before our eyes
Overlooking the Automne Valley, the Donjon de Vez is one of the Valois region’s most iconic monuments.
Designated a Historic Monument and home to a garden certified as a “Remarkable Garden,” it offers an exceptional journey through 1,000 years of history and architecture.
Built in the Middle Ages on a former strategic site, the castle was fortified after 1214, when Philippe Auguste gifted it to the knight Raoul d’Estrées. Destroyed during the Great Peasants’ Revolt, it was rebuilt in the 14th century with the construction of its remarkable pentagonal keep.
The site has weathered the major events of French history: confiscation during the Revolution, major restorations in the 19th century, and occupation during World War I.
Today, the Donjon de Vez invites you to immerse yourself in contemporary art.
When Contemporary Art Meets Stone
A visit to the Donjon de Vez is an opportunity to discover a place where leading contemporary artists meet medieval architecture.
This encounter gives rise to a surprising experience: each space invites visitors to take a fresh look at the monument.
As early as the 19th century, the site welcomed visionary creators such as Gustave Eiffel and Emmanuel Frémiet. Since the 1990s, this openness has expanded: the contemporary garden designed by Pascal Cribier reinterprets medieval aesthetics, while Sol LeWitt and Daniel Buren have transformed the interior spaces with major works.
Whether exploring the permanent collection or summer exhibitions, every visit becomes a vibrant dialogue between history and creativity.
