Bergerie Nationale de Rambouillet
Hidden inside the château grounds, the Bergerie Nationale is a working farm founded by Louis XVI in 1786 to breed Merino sheep imported from Spain — it has operated without interruption ever since and remains one of the most unusual living-history sites near Paris.
History written in wool
Louis XVI introduced the Spanish Merino to France here in a bid to revolutionise the national wool industry; Napoleon later expanded the flock and the breed still grazes the same paddocks today.
The original 18th-century stone barn — the Grand Bergerie — is an architectural set piece in itself, a long vaulted building that could pass for a minor abbey if you arrived without context.
What visitors experience
Guided tours take you through the working sheep pens, the wool-sorting rooms and the breeding records that trace unbroken lineage back to the original Spanish flock — genuinely fascinating even for non-agricultural visitors.
Lambing season in late winter (February–March) is the most magical time to visit: the Grand Bergerie fills with newborns and the farm opens extended public hours to accommodate families.
The farm shop and surroundings
The on-site boutique sells wool products, sheepskin items and local honey produced on the estate — the hand-spun yarn is a far more interesting souvenir than anything sold in central Rambouillet.
The farm sits within the château park so combining a Bergerie visit with a garden walk and a château tour makes for a full and varied day without needing a car.
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