This castle is one of the best examples of French Baroque architecture, and the most well-preserved building designed by famed architect of the seventeenth century, François Mansart. The interiors reflect the elegant symmetry that was so popular in the 1600s, and include works by some of the finest artists of the time. The castle boasts a fine garden and the surrounding grounds are worth a ramble. As an architectural precursor to the splendors of Versailles, the Château de Maisons-Laffitte makes an excellent day-trip destination from Paris.