Travel Guide Villers-Cotterêts

In the early days, Villers-Cotterêts was no more than a clearing in a vast forest. The first settlements appeared in the 6th century. Today, 75 km from Paris, Villers-Cotterêts benefits from the remarkable setting of the Retz forest, one of the largest state-owned forests in France, covering almost 13,000 hectares. This exceptional location has led to the town being chosen as a hunting residence by numerous kings and princes, as far back as 632, with King Dagobert. But the most fervent of these was undoubtedly Francis I, who had the château built here that we can admire today. It was in Villers-Cotterêts, in August 1559, that he signed the ordinance known as the Villers-Cotterêts Ordinance. Among other articles, the ordinance stipulated that official and notarized acts should be written in "langaige maternel françoys et non aultrement", and that parish priests should keep a register of baptisms and deaths: the French language thus became the official language, and the beginnings of civil status were born! Subsequent wars ravaged many establishments, including the château, which had a hard time recovering from the material and human damage. Today, the Château Villers-Cotterêts is home to the Musée de la Francophonie. The town is also the birthplace of Alexandre Dumas, father of the Three Musketeers, whose footsteps can be followed in the town. The park, located in the heart of the city, has preserved the main features of its original composition. Through the Porte Blanche, visitors have access to the nearby forest.