Rally of Elegance
The Escape
A motoring rally on the finest roads of Île-de-France, punctuated by exceptional stops at private châteaux. At nightfall, the Club's grand season opening in an extraordinary estate at the gates of Paris.
Limited places, subject to approval by The Castle Club.
The rally
The evening
The rally
- Date and time
- 5 September, 9.45am to 5.30pm
- Where
- Departure from place Vauban, Paris 7e · private lunch at the Château de Grosbois · activities at the Château de Villiers
- Prices
- €1,500 for a crew of two · €500 per additional guest
- Dress code
- Countryside chic
The evening
- Date and time
- 5 September, 6.30pm to 4am
- Where
- Château du Mesnil-Voysin
- Prices
- €180 per person · €150 for members
- Dress code
- Black tie, evening dress
The spirit of the rally
The Escape. A certain allure.
An invitation to rediscover the pleasure of the road through a selection of private châteaux, exceptionally opened for the occasion, at a chosen pace: that of elegance.
Throughout the day, crews will travel from château to château, discovering places usually closed to the public, experiences imagined by the Castle Club, and privileged encounters, before gathering for a Black Tie evening at a final estate.
A day conceived as a succession of private experiences, from Paris all the way to The Castle Club's Grand Season Opening.
9.45am — Paris, Place Vauban
The start
Crews gather on place Vauban over coffee before setting off. Rally equipment is handed out, along with the plates and identification for each car, followed by a briefing on the different routes.
Two routes will be offered depending on the pace you prefer: a gentler one, favouring the landscapes and the pleasure of driving, and a more spirited itinerary, for crews who would rather press on.
Everyone then meets again at the first château.
Château de Grosbois
A private lunch in the Galerie des Batailles
See the menuFirst stop at the Château de Grosbois, once the home of Marshal Berthier, chief of staff to Napoleon I.
For the occasion, The Castle Club has secured exceptional permission to have lunch in the Galerie des Batailles, where Berthier once received the Emperor.
No lunch or dinner has been held there since the beginning of the twentieth century.
A lunch-performance created especially for the rally will be served there, before the crews take to the road again across some of the finest routes of Île-de-France.
Château de Villiers
Clay shooting, helicopter & afternoon break
The second stop takes place at the Château de Villiers, for an afternoon of sport, rest and art de vivre.
On the programme: a clay shooting session, a sweet tasting and a helicopter flight over the château and the surrounding countryside.
Before setting off again, crews will have the château's rooms at their disposal to change into evening dress.
Château du Mesnil-Voysin
The Castle Club's Grand Season Opening
The rally's final stop: the Château du Mesnil-Voysin, where the crews join the other guests for The Castle Club's Grand Season Opening.
A black tie evening bringing together around 250 guests, in the tradition of the Club's great parties: private chefs, champagne, wines and spirits, signature cocktails, music and experiences created for this night alone.
Rally participants will have priority access to the château's rooms for those who wish to stay through to the next day.
Sunday breakfast is included.
The evening
At nightfall, the evening's guests are joined by the rally crews.
The Castle Club's Grand Season Opening will take place at the Château du Mesnil-Voysin, a seventeenth-century house designed by Mansart, its gardens signed by Le Nôtre. The estate notably received Louis XIV and Mazarin during the Fronde.
In this Grand Siècle setting, 250 selected guests will gather for one of the great occasions of The Castle Club's season.
Programme
The evening opens with a standing dinner created by private chefs, served with champagne, wines, spirits and signature cocktails. See the menu.
A live concert precedes the DJ set, while several Castle Club experiences punctuate the night.
The cars that took part in the rally will also be shown across the estate, alongside exceptional motorcars brought by our partners, among them a 1964 Aston Martin, one of only 39 built.
A black tie evening conceived as the culmination of the day, between heritage, motoring and the art of hosting.
Good to know
Arrival by helicopter is possible — call our team on +33 7 81 65 13 88.
Someone from outside the Club may attend at a member's invitation, or after review of their request if they have never attended a Castle Club event before.
Getting there, home, and to bed
Shuttles from Paris
Departure from place de la Concorde early in the evening, returns to Paris during the night.
By car
1 rue de Lardy, 91850 Bouray-sur-Juine, 45 minutes from Paris via the A6. Valet and parking on arrival. See directions.
Staying the night
Double rooms at the Château de Villiers, ten minutes away. Limited availability. Shuttle at the end of the evening, breakfast on Sunday. €240 per room, to be booked with your ticket.
Dress code and timings
Strict dress code: black tie and evening dress. Arrival at 6.30pm, the evening ends at 4am.
The Escape — September 5, 2026
The Castle Club — Invitation-only elegance rally — 25 crews