FIELD TRIP TO VINCENNES WITH TECHNICAL VISIT TO MAP COLLECTION OF THE HISTORICAL MILITARY ARCHIVES (Service historique de la défense)

9.00 am to meet in front of the Condorcet Conference Center

10.15 am to arrive in SHD, tour starts 10.30.-12.30 (2 hours)

A post-event trip to Vincennes, a beautiful town on the eastern outskirts of Paris, is planned for Saturday, 12 July 2025. The city is famous for its castle, the Château de Vincennes, a former fortress and royal residence dating back to the 14th century. The Château de Vincennes is also a home to the Historical Military Archives (Service Historique de la Defence (SHD)), which holds many important archival records, including an extensive Map Collection with over 50,000 maps and plans. The excursion participants will be offered a guided tour of this unique collection of maps and a visit to the castle (optional). After touring the collection, there will be a free time to explore the city and its attractions on your own (city centre with numerous brasseries, fortress, botanical garden, public parks, etc.), which are all within walking distance.

Travel time from Paris center to Vincennes by Metro Line 1 (direction Château de Vincennes) is ca 45 mins (take the exit at Chateau de Vincennes stop). Travel time from Condorcet Center to Vincennes is about 55 mins (at Front Populaire take the Metro Line 12 (direction Mairie d’Issy) and exit at Concorde, there transfer to Metro Line 1 (direction Château de Vincennes), take the exit at Château de Vincennes stop). There is no cost to attend the trip (except the metro ticket) but registration is mandatory.

A fortified complex of Vincennes (left) that houses the Service historique de la Defence (right)