Best Chateaux in France – Castles in France to Go to

Pretty Castles in France

Are you in quest of enticing châteaux to go to in France? In France, there are fairly châteaux everywhere, and there’s one concern for every model, from medieval castles to Renaissance châteaux surrounded by manicured gardens.

We have rounded up the principles of the only châteaux in France, along with well-known châteaux in France and hidden gems worth exploring. On this pointers, now we have got now tried to cowl the whole French areas and completely absolutely completely totally different architectural varieties. On account of ruins can also be merely as enticing as flawless palaces, the principles moreover consists of some crumbling castles.

Appropriate correct proper right here’s the principles of most attention-grabbing castles in France in no particular order, with a map which can assist you pinpoint all these fabulous French castles.

READ MORE: What’s a château?

Château de Versailles

• Location: Versailles (Ile-de-France)
• Architectural Kind: French Baroque

Château de Versailles is for some the only château in France, a jewel of French baroque constructing listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Attributable to its proximity to Paris, it’s normally almost definitely possibly basically essentially the most visited castles in France.

Versailles was constructed contained within the seventeenth century by King Louis XIII as a trying lodge. Beneath his son, King Louis XIV, the palace was completely rebuilt by the only artists of that time: Le Vau was accountable for the event, Le Nôtre designed the gardens, and Le Brun was accountable for the sculpture – Click on on on on right correct proper right here to buy tickets to Château de Versailles

Château de Fontainebleau

• Location: Fontainebleau (Ile-de-France)
• Architectural Kind: completely absolutely completely totally different varieties

TIP: In the mean time top-rated tour from Paris visits Château de Fontainebleau and Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in in the long term

Château de Fontainebleau is one completely totally different well-known château in France. Château de Fontainebleau was the French Kings’ residence all by the use of their trying getaways contained within the forest of Fontainebleau.

Due to the Coronary coronary heart Ages, the forest of Fontainebleau was a trying place for the royals and nobles. King Louis VII was the first king to assemble a citadel (a defend) in Fontainebleau contained within the twelfth century. Since then, his successors enlarged and embellished this former defend, turning it into almost definitely possibly basically essentially the most enticing castles in France.

Château de Fontainebleau has inconceivable rooms and halls richly adorned with the only provides and gives. The partaking Renaissance Rooms, adorned contained within the 1500s beneath King François I and King Henry II’s supervision, are appropriately successfully undoubtedly definitely worth the entry alone. Lastly, don’t miss the encircling gardens with enticing fountains and ponds – Click on on on on right correct proper right here to buy tickets to Château de Fontainebleau

Château de Chantilly

• Location: Chantilly (Hauts-de-France)
• Architectural Kind: Renaissance

Château de Chantilly is simply not a royal citadel, nevertheless its picturesque setting, gardens, and constructing will almost definitely steal your coronary coronary coronary coronary heart. Along with, Chantilly is appropriately associated to Paris by put collectively, making a beautiful day journey out of Paris.

The current citadel was rebuilt after the French Revolution by Henry d’Orléans, penultimate son of King Louis-Philippe I and the property’s heir. Henry d’Orléans put in contained within the château his collections of labor, drawings, and former books, acknowledged as we discuss due to the Musée Condé. The Musée Condé hosts the second most intensive assortment of labor in France, solely second to the Louvre work in Paris. There’s moreover a formidable library and lecture room with an in depth assortment of medieval manuscripts and historic books.

After visiting the château, uncover the magnificent gardens. The château is surrounded by a enticing French Yard designed by André Le Nôtre an English Yard, and a hamlet just like the one in Versailles – Click on on on on right correct proper right here to buy tickets to Château de Chantilly

Best Castles in Northern France

The principles of castles in Northern France consists of enticing French châteaux contained within the areas of Ile-de-France, Normandy, and Hauts-de France.

Château de Pierrefonds

• Location: Pierrefonds (Hauts-de-France)
• Architectural Kind: Late Medieval /Early Renaissance

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Château de Pierrefonds is a fairy-tale château in France with an attention-grabbing historic earlier. Positioned contained within the village of Pierrefonds, north of Paris, Château de Pierrefonds makes a beautiful day journey from Paris by automotive, and it is a terrific spot to go looking out with the family.

The first organising was constructed all by the use of the Thirteenth century. One century later, King Philippe Auguste built-in the citadel into the royal domains to be used as a royal palace. When King Charles V died in 1392, Château de Pierrefonds was inherited by his youngest son, Duke Louis d’Orléans, who completely rebuilt the citadel.

Over the centuries, the citadel modified palms many circumstances. In March 1617, all by the use of the early troubled days of King Louis XIII’s reign, the citadel, then the property of François-Annibal d’Estrées, who joined the ‘parti des mécontents’ (event of discontent), was besieged, taken, and destroyed by the King’s troops.

Two centuries later, the ruined citadel was bought by Napoleon I, and it was used for important banquets and absolutely completely totally different events. In 1857, Emperor Napoleon III requested Viollet-Le-Duc to undertake the restoration of the château to be used as an imperial residence. The consequence was additional a bit product of Viollet-le-Duc’s creativeness pretty than a reliable restoration nevertheless we love the interiors with their vibrant colors and interval furnishings – Click on on on on right correct proper right here to buy tickets to Château de Pierrefonds

Château Gaillard

• Location: Les Andelys (Normandy)
• Architectural Kind: Medieval

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Château Gaillard is probably going thought of one in every of many most attention-grabbing castles in Normandy. It is a medieval fortress constructed contained within the twelfth century beneath the rule of King Richard the Lionheart, who was moreover Duke of Normandy, to protect his lands in opposition to the French King Philippe Auguste. The citadel was strategically positioned on the proper of a extreme cliff dominating the cities of Les Andelys and the Seine Valley. The view from the citadel, over Les Andelys and the Seine’s meanders, is unbelievable.

Château-Gaillard had a sophisticated plan, very completely absolutely completely totally different from absolutely completely totally different fortresses constructed all by the use of the identical interval. The citadel was organized in fairly just a few volumes, just about unbiased of each other. This affiliation aimed to multiply the obstacles to exhaust the attacker and need fewer defenders.

Château Gaillard consisted of three baileys (an inside, a middle, and an outer), the latest with the citadel’s principal entrance. All via the inside bailey, the defend is probably going one in every of many actual and best-preserved retains contained in the world. It is contained within the type of a spherical tower on three quarters nevertheless with an angle to the southeast. The baileys, which have been separated by rock-cut ditches, housed the citadel’s stables, workshops, and storage suppliers, whereas the defend was reserved for the utilization of King Richard.

Château de Chambord

• Location: Chambord (Centre-Val-de-Loire)
• Architectural Kind: Renaissance

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Château de Chambord is among the many many most fascinating French château contained within the Loire Valley and undoubtedly a should on any Loire Valley bucket pointers. It is also a necessary citadel contained in the world, surrounded by a necessary closed forest park in Europe (roughly 50 km2 surrounded by a wall of 32 km prolonged).

Château de Chambord was constructed contained within the 1500s for King Francis I to be used as a second residence. For the King, Château de Chambord was a spot to loosen up, hunt, and have pleasing alongside collectively collectively along with his courtroom docket, nevertheless it undoubtedly was moreover used to showcase his political and cultural vitality.

From the beginning of the Second World Warfare, the citadel turned the center to kind and defend the treasures of the nationwide museums of Paris and the North of France, which wanted to be evacuated from German bombardments. Curators and guardians stood guard to defend the works of the Louvre Museum saved contained within the citadel.

Don’t miss Chambord’s well-known double-helix staircase that twists gracefully up three flooring: it is rumored that Leonardo da Vinci had a hand in its design! – Click on on on on right correct proper right here to buy your tickets to Château de Chambord

Château de Chenonceau

• Location: Chenonceau (Centre-Val-de-Loire)
• Architectural Kind: Renaissance

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Château de Chenonceau is one completely totally different well-known French château contained within the Loire Valley, with enticing constructing and a singular setting. For loads of, Chenonceau is taken into consideration the only château in France and is the second most visited citadel contained within the nation solely after Versailles.

The event and later transformations of this Renaissance château are rigorously linked to fairly just a few terribly surroundings pleasant ladies. It was constructed by Katherine Briçonnet in 1513, enriched by Diane de Poitiers (King Henry II’s mistress who obtained the château from the King), and enlarged beneath Queen Cathérine de Médicis. Attributable to this, Château de Chenonceau is often often called Le Château des Dames.

Chenonceau’s principal highlight, which makes the citadel distinctive, is its well-known two-story gallery overlooking the Cher River. Nonetheless in exact actuality, there’s far more to go looking out in Chenonceau! You possibly can even go to the citadel’s surroundings on a rowboat or fly over Chenonceau in a scorching air balloon – Click on on on on right correct proper right here to buy your tickets to Château de Chenonceau

Fort of Carcassonne

• Location: Carcassonne (Occitanie)
• Architectural Kind: Medieval

The Fort of Carcassonne is a medieval citadel contained inside the Cité de Carcassonne, a type of fortress contained contained in the fortress and the epitome of your fairytale medieval citadel. The Fort at Carcassonne was constructed contained within the twelfth century by Bernard Aton Trencavel, Rely of Carcassonne, over the western part of earlier Roman partitions.

The Fort of Carcassonne is rectangular in kind, and it is separated from metropolis by a deep moat and defended by two barbicans. The citadel’s six towers are pierced with stirrup loopholes, and the curtain partitions and the proper of the towers is perhaps utilized with hoists. The western flank of the partitions, in opposition to which the Carcassonne Fort is constructed, is defended by a sq. watchtower, the Tour Pinte, which is the only contained within the metropolis.

Contained contained in the Carcassonne Fort, there are the stays of the Counts’ non-public chapel and a museum with an attention-grabbing assortment of Cathar gravestones and absolutely completely totally different objects related to the Cathars – Click on on on on right correct proper right here to buy your tickets for the Cité de Carcassonne and Fort

Châteaux de Lastours

• Location: Lastours (Occitanie)
• Architectural Kind: Medieval

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Châteaux de Lastours is an ensemble of 4 castles (Cabaret, Tour Régine, Surdespine, and Quertinheux) perched on a rocky spur and isolated by deep valleys. They’re positioned contained within the Languedoc-Roussillon space, a 20-minute journey from the well-known fortified metropolis of Carcassone. On the foot of the castles, friends can nonetheless see the ruins of Cabaret, the village that surrounded the castles in Medieval circumstances.

All via the eleventh century, there have been solely three castles (Cabaret, Surdespine, and Quertinheux) occupied by the Lords of Cabaret. Their location developed in time following the successive destructions and reconstructions.

The Lords of Cabaret seemed to be very close to the Catharism, and there was an incessantly presence of Cathar bishops contained within the castles. Cabaret was besieged by the Crusaders in 1209 and 1227 with out success.

Cabaret was besieged as rapidly as extra in 1229, and the Lords of Cabaret capitulated undoubtedly. Cabaret turned a royal fortress, and a fourth tower, the Tour Régine, was constructed by order of the king to affirm his supremacy over Cabaret.

What friends can see as we discuss are the stays of the Thirteenth-century buildings, with inconceivable views over the encircling valleys.

Château de Peyrepertuse

• Location: Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse (Occitanie)
• Architectural Kind: Medieval

This vertiginous citadel is a inconceivable piece of navy constructing constructed on a limestone cliff watching over the village of Duilhac.

Constructed between the eleventh and Thirteenth centuries, the Château de Peyrepertuse first consisted of a small fortified settlement which, over time, was a giant piece of Aragon’s defensive place in opposition to the Occitan lords.

All by the use of the promoting advertising and marketing marketing campaign in opposition to the Albigenses, the citadel was the stronghold of Guillaume de Peyrepertuse, who, not desperate to submit, was excommunicated in 1224. Guillaume lastly surrendered after the autumn of Carcassonne, and the citadel turned a French possession in 1240. The French King Louis IX turned Château de Peyrepertuse into a giant part of his safety line in opposition to Aragon.

In 1242, King Louis IX decided to strengthen the citadel and add a second half, the Donjon Sant Jordi (Saint Jordi’s Hold), positioned elevated up on the crest. Château de Peyrepertuse’s strategic significance ended with the Pyrénées Treaty in 1659, when the northern part of Catalonia was transferred to France. Nonetheless, males continued watching over this enticing citadel until the French Revolution.

Appropriate this second friends can uncover the lower partitions, the two retains linked by a staircase dug out of the rock and two small chapels. The view from Saint Jordi’s Hold, the citadel’s highest diploma, is unbelievable.

Château de Lourmarin

• Location: Lourmarin (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)
• Architectural Kind: Renaissance

Château de Lourmarin, contained within the Vaucluse division, is a Renaissance château in-built two phases. The first half was constructed contained within the fifteenth century, on the ruins of a fortress relationship from the twelfth century, and the second part of the citadel was constructed all by the use of the primary half of the sixteenth century.

The Château de Lourmarin is nicknamed the little Villa Medici in Provence, primarily for its ceremonial spiral staircase, loggia, fireplaces, and parkland. It moreover has enticing furnishings and an attention-grabbing assortment of musical gadgets and engravings.

Château d’If

• Location: If Island, Marseille (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)
• Architectural Kind: Renaissance

The imposing Château d’If was constructed by King François I in 1524 to protect metropolis of Marseille from sea assaults. This fortified château is positioned on the small If Island, off Marseille’s coast. All by the use of its 400 years of put together, this French château was used primarily as a state jail.

Château d’If turned world-famous because of the novel Le Comte de Monte-Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Appropriate correct proper right here, the hero Edmond Dantès was imprisoned for 14 years.

Appropriate this second, Château d’If is probably going thought of one in every of many hottest day journeys from Marseille, attracting a complete lot of vacationers yearly. Fairly just a few shuttle boats hyperlink Marseille’s Earlier Port to Ile d’If hourly, and the guided go to to the château can also be very attention-grabbing – Click on on on on right correct proper right here to buy your tickets to Château d’If

Château de Commarque

• Location: Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
• Architectural Kind: Medieval

Château de Commarque, contained within the Dordogne Valley, is probably going one in every of many enticing medieval castles in France. It is a medieval castrum that regroups a citadel, a chapel, and some tower-houses for the nobility contained contained in the fortification.

Château de Commarque was constructed all by the use of the twelfth century by the Lords of Beynac to ensure the safety of two important commerce routes that crossed the valley: the freeway from Périgueux to Cahors and the freeway from Brive to Bergerac.

All by the use of the Hundred Years’ Warfare, the Beynacs remained the reliable defenders of the valley and the crown of France. The English nonetheless seized the citadel in 1464 and saved it for fairly just a few years. Utterly completely totally different wars adopted, and with them, the citadel was badly damaged. Lastly, the positioning was abandoned contained within the 18th century.

In 1915 a spiritual man discovered a prehistoric cave contained contained in the cliff that helps the citadel. This cave contained 150 drawings carved by males 15,000 years beforehand. The cave was categorised as a historic monument in 1924.

In 1968, a descendant of the distinctive family bought the ruins of the citadel and undertook an in depth program of consolidation and restoration of the citadel. The citadel is open to most individuals provided that yr 2000.

Château Castelnaud

• Location: Castelnaud-la-Chapelle (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
• Architectural Kind: Medieval

This medieval citadel is positioned contained within the Dordogne Valley, overlooking the Céou Valley and going by the fortress of Beynac, its eternal rival. Château Castelnaud is probably going one in every of many enticing châteaux in France, a beautiful occasion of a feudal non-public fortification, with fortified partitions, a bastion, a dungeon, an artillery tower, and dwelling quarters.

Definitely one in every of many important well-known castles in Dordogne, the first organising was constructed all by the use of the twelfth century nevertheless was destroyed all by the use of the Albigensian Promoting and advertising and marketing advertising and marketing marketing campaign led by Simon de Monfort’s armies. All by the use of the Thirteenth century, a model new citadel was constructed, and it was occupied by the households of Castelnaud and Berbiguières united by marriage.

All by the use of the Hundred Years’ Warfare, Castelnaud took the English event until 1442, when the king’s navy defeated it. Consequently, the citadel modified homeowners, and the family of Caumont saved it until the French Revolution when the citadel was abandoned.

From 1967 to 2012, the citadel underwent an in depth program of restoration works. Appropriate this second, Château de Castelnaud is open to most individuals and it is a easy half-day journey from Sarlat. It hosts the attention-grabbing Museum of the Warfare contained within the Coronary coronary heart Ages, with an in depth assortment of weapons and absolutely completely totally different devices.

Excursions de Merle

Current: Flickr

• Location: Saint-Geniez-ô-Merle (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
• Architectural Kind: Medieval

This set of crumbling towers positioned in a steep valley on the western side of Massif Central is solely unbelievable. Excursions de Merle was a feudal fortress (castrum) constructed between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries. It included seven fortified properties owned by seven noblemen from Merles, two chapels, and a village.

The positioning was taken by the English all by the use of the Hundred Years’ Warfare after which by the Calvinists in 1574. The Calvinists established a garrison for two years until the co-lords of Merles chased them out. Nonetheless, the co-lords then abandoned the positioning, on account of they hottest to reside in extra good and accessible areas.

On the highest of the seventeenth century, the village inhabitants, not in a position to rely upon the lords’ security, dispersed, and Excursions de Merle steadily fell into oblivion.

Appropriate this second the Excursions de Merle are part of a 10-hectare park, and it is an thrilling place to go looking out and experience unbelievable views of Massif Central.

Château de Josselin

• Location: Josselin (Bretagne)
• Architectural Kind: Medieval, Renaissance

The Château de Josselin is a formidable citadel positioned above the Nantes-Brest Canal, contained within the Gulf of Morbihan. The citadel has been residence to the Dukes of Rohan for larger than ten centuries.

A critical picket château was in-built 1008 on this web site, chosen for its navy and on the lookout for and promoting significance. Shortly a village developed on the foot of the citadel.

Over the centuries, the citadel was destroyed, reconstructed, and it modified palms many circumstances. The fortress that you just may even see as we discuss from the river is from the 14th century, whereas the magnificent residence inside, contained within the Renaissance mannequin, was added contained within the sixteenth century.

All by the use of the seventeenth century wars of religion, three of the distinctive 9 towers have been destroyed on Cardinal Richelieu’s orders, and two additional towers have been destroyed years later.

One amongst many most attention-grabbing castles in Brittany, Château de Josselin remained abandoned until about 1850 when the dukes undertook a major restoration to develop to be their residence as rapidly as extra.

Château de Tanlay

• Location: Tanlay (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)
• Architectural Kind: Renaissance

The Château de Tanlay is a broadly recognized château in France in-built Renaissance mannequin all by the use of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It’s seemingly one in every of many enticing castles contained within the space of Bourgogne, well-known for its distinctive setting and superior constructing with slate roofs à la française.

The citadel is surrounded by a moat, with entry by the use of a bridge. The reflections of the citadel on the water and the acceptable symmetry of the cour d’honneur is part of Tanlay’s serene enchantment.

The citadel was utterly rebuilt by Admiral de Coligny contained within the sixteenth century, who inherited the property in ruinous conditions. Residence to Admiral Coligny’s family all by the use of the Wars of Religion, its reconstruction was achieved by Michel Particelli d’Hemery, Mazarin’s superintendent of Finance. All via the late seventeenth century, Château de Tanlay turned the property of the Marquis de Tanlay, and the identical family nonetheless inhabits it.

Château de Ratilly

• Location: Treigny (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)
• Architectural Kind: Medieval

This enticing French château is positioned on the proper of a hill overlooking the Valley of the Tendril at 270 meters. The positioning is near the Seine-Loire watershed.

The current citadel was constructed contained within the Thirteenth century following a Philippian plan: an enclosure with 6 turrets delimited an rectangular courtyard. All the is surrounded by dry moats, with two towers framing the drawbridge.

Throughout the midst of the 14th century, all by the use of the Hundred Years’ Warfare, the citadel was residence to a bunch of looters. Years later, in 1567, the citadel turned undoubtedly thought of one in every of many headquarters for the Huguenots contained within the Auxerrois.

All by the use of the Renaissance, Château de Ratilly was reworked right correct proper right into a habitation for Mary de Puy. The renovation works included inserting in chimneys and the opening of residence residence dwelling home windows contained within the partitions of the towers, whereas the southwest tower turned a garret.

All via the 18th and nineteenth centuries, the property was provided fairly just a few circumstances. Appropriate this second, the Château de Ratilly is opened to most individuals as an paintings work center.

Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg

• Location: Orschwiller (Grand Est)
• Architectural Kind: Medieval

TIP: This Alsace freeway journey explores Château du Haut-Koenisbourg and absolutely completely totally different enticing areas shut by.

Château de Haut-Koenisbourg is probably going thought of one in every of many most attention-grabbing châteaux in France. This fortified citadel from the twelfth century (nevertheless deeply reworked all by the use of the 14th century), dominates the Alsatian Plain from the Buntsandstein Rock and has a panorama out to the Black Forest. The citadel is a must-stop on any journey to Alsace, and it is a trendy day journey from Strasbourg or Sélestat.

The Hohenstaufen family constructed the citadel as part of a safety line to bolster their vitality in Alsace. Over the centuries, the citadel was disputed by completely absolutely completely totally different households and nations until it was severely damaged all by the use of the Thirty Years’ Warfare and was abandoned.

The citadel we’ll see as we discuss is from the 20 th century, the outcomes of Kaiser William II’s romantic imaginative and prescient of medieval castles. The citadel went by the use of a deep restoration beneath his direct supervision, and he visited the works recurrently. For the Kaiser, this citadel marked the western boundary of the German Empire.

On the highest of the First World Warfare in 1919, the realm of Alsace-Lorraine and the citadel turned part of the French State. Nonetheless, the coat of arms of William II continues to be seen contained inside the citadel, and it stays undoubtedly thought of one in every of many symbols in Alsace of the German presence between 1871 and 1918.

Château de Val

• Location: Lanobre (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)
• Architectural Kind: Medieval

Château de Val is probably going one in every of many charming châteaux to go to in France, a fortified citadel positioned contained within the space of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes between the Thirteenth and fifteenth centuries.

Constructed on a rocky spur 30 meters extreme overlooking the Valley of Haute-Dordogne, the fortress, and its parkland didn’t disappear beneath the waters following the event of the model new dam. Nonetheless, on the ultimate phrase second, the water stage of the model new artificial lake was reviewed solely as fairly a bit because of the foot of the citadel, and Château de Val and the partaking Saint Blaise Chapel have been saved.

Appropriate this second, Château de Val appears as an atypical organising positioned on the sting of undoubtedly thought of one in every of many largest lakes in Europe. Its elegant silhouette topped with six towers mirrored on the water and the pure setting with landscapes of wonderful magnificence is a must-see contained within the space. We advocate staying until nightfall when the Château de Val lights up.

And there you’ve got obtained it, the principles of most attention-grabbing castles in France to go to, which is among the many many most fascinating French château in your opinion?

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