Last Sunday we were nine Instagrammers to meet on a sunny morning in our suburb of Paris. This InstaMeet in Maisons-Laffitte, Yvelines, was an excellent opportunity to befriend other people with a passion for photography and re-discover the chateau and its vast park.
What is an InstaMeet?
An InstaMeet, short for Instagram Meet-Up, is a social gathering where people who are part of the Instagram community come together in person to connect, interact, and share their common interests and passion for photography. InstaMeets are organized by Instagram users, typically by creating an event or using a specific hashtag to invite others in the same geographic area or with similar interests to meet up at a particular location.
During an InstaMeet, participants often take photos and videos, explore the surroundings, exchange photography tips and techniques, and converse about their shared love for visual storytelling. These events can be casual, creative, and collaborative, allowing individuals to form new connections, network, and showcase their work. InstaMeets can vary in scale, from small gatherings of a few people to more significant events with dozens or even hundreds of participants.
InstaMeets not only foster a sense of community and camaraderie among Instagram users but also provide a platform for them to showcase their photography skills and perspectives, often resulting in a diverse collection of images captured during the event.
InstaMeet in Maisons-Laffitte
Our beautiful Paris suburb of Maisons-Laffitte is situated in the Île de France region, and more precisely in the département of Yvelines, 20 min from the centre of Paris by RER. The town is famous for its chateau and park dotted with magnificent villas and manors.
On that day, we were nine Instagrammers to follow Anne-Sophie through the town’s streets. You can check their beautiful photo galleries here: anneso_pic, ytourisme, wawanoff, kolni63, jcg48, bougivanne, carolinelsln, sylviesll and frenchmoments.
The code name of that day was #Instadada_100416, and you can view all the photos taken by the team.
Here is a selection of photos I took during the InstaMeet, which I hope will make you want to discover this little town on a short visit from Paris.
The approach of Maisons-Laffitte and the racecourse
The entrance to Maisons-Laffitte with the racecourse to the right bordering the River Seine:
The racecourse of Maisons-Laffitte and the River Seine:
The Petit Parc
The elegant fountain in the Place du château:
Avenue Églé and the Place du château:
Place du château :
The old town
A peaceful and quiet street in the old part of town:
The bell tower of Maisons-Laffitte’s parish church:
The former Romanesque church
The former church of Maisons-Laffitte from the park of the chateau:
The château of Maisons
The entrance to the cellars of the château:
View of the château from the garden:
Some of the InstaMeet participants in front of the chateau of Maisons-Laffitte:
Caroline in action… is the dog or the chateau the real star?
View of the château from the road to Paris:
The Caves du Nord
The Doulton House
In the park of Maisons-Laffitte stands the Doulton House, the former British Pavillon at the 1878 Paris World Exhibition:
Instagrammers in front of the Doulton House, Park of Maisons-Laffitte:
All photos © French Moments
