Empire Ball at Château de Maisons

A Sunday-afternoon Empire ball held in the grande salle de bal of the chateau de Maisons, the Francois Mansart masterpiece at Maisons-Laffitte, twenty minutes north-west of Paris. From 14:30 to 17:30 the public is invited to learn the dances of the Second Empire - quadrilles, waltzes and polkas - in an open, all-ages initiation led by costumed dancers, recreating the atmosphere of the grand receptions once held in aristocratic houses. Period dress is part of the spectacle, and the setting is a Centre des monuments nationaux property whose ballroom is among the finest of the Grand Siecle.

The programme for the next edition hasn’t been published yet. It goes up here as soon as the organiser releases it.

Chateau de Maisons, 2 avenue Carnot, Maisons-Laffitte (Yvelines) — Maisons-Laffitte station (RER A / Transilien) is about a 10-minute walk from the chateau. The 13 September ball runs during the chateau's normal opening hours (10:00-17:30); costumed Second Empire or ball dress is encouraged but not required. Admission is included in the standard chateau entry fee; the organiser's own page does not state that fee as text this run, so no figure is given here.