Villers-Cotterêts: Museums, Exhibitions & Discounts

Villers-Cotterêts is a historic commune located in northern France, in the department of Aisne. The town is particularly notable for its Renaissance castle, the Château de Villers-Cotterêts, which was built in the 16th century under François I.

This château holds significant cultural importance as it was here that King François I signed the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts in 1539, making French the official language of administration and justice in France. The town is also known as the birthplace of Alexandre Dumas, the renowned French author of "The Three Musketeers" and "The Count of Monte Cristo." Today, the château has been transformed into the Cité internationale de la langue française (International City of the French Language), celebrating the French language and its cultural heritage.

The town is surrounded by the Forest of Retz, one of the largest forests in France, which has historically played an important role in the region's economy and culture.