• Pechrigal • Donjon de Houdan In this case, you are sure to appreciate visiting historical French castles! In the late 13th century, the castle and the town came into the possession of the French knight William de Valence, who ordered the construction of the town’s defensive stone walls. • Lacapelle-Marival The former was built in 1560. When you get insurance from elsewhere, you will be responsible for sorting out all the fixes to the car etc, which is a lot of work. Today you can visit its immense halls and feel the history of it! • Rochebaron • Caen • Roquefixade • Rocan • Saint Romain (at Siaugues-Sainte-Marie), Allinges (neuf) • Butenheim • Crèvecœur • Montaigut • La Roche-Jagu Premiere among them is Avignon Castle, Vincennes Castle and Mont Saint Michel. • Tramezaygues, Castles in Hérault [This article includes Agel, Aigues-Vives, Aspiran de Ravanès (Thézan-Lès-Béziers), Aumelas, Autignac, Bélarga, Cabrerolles, Cabrières, Castelnau-de-Guers, Creissan, Cruzy, Dio, Faugères, Fos, Grézan (Laurens), Malavieille, Margon, Marsillargues, Mazers (Fontės), Montouliers, Mourcairol, Pézènes-les-Mines, Puisserguier, Saint-Bauléry (Cébazan)] • Montréal Hi wanderluststory tellers! • Celles Chateau du Nozet Where: Pouilly-sur-Loire, France When: 17th century Who built it: Comte Edmond Lafond Style: Renaissance style What is it now? • Moulins-Engilbert Interestingly, Mont Saint Michel became a refuge for Christian pilgrims in the 9th century and then was used as a prison by the French monarch in the 15th century and beyond. • Lamecourt • Lagrange-Monrepos • Condat For your convenience, we have included the list of our favorite chateaux in France on this... Castles Near Paris. • Inférieur • Rudelle There is not a single region of France that cannot boast some fine medieval castles. • Bar sur Seine • Careil • Nérac • Freundstein • Vire, Château Gaillard • Chambonas The number of castles in France is estimated to about 45 000, a bit more than 1 for France's 36 000 communities. • Saint Martin de Toques In June'15 we made a decision that changed our world as we knew it! These 10 castle hotels are located in authentic French chateaux. Built by nobles, they were fortresses for the military, homes for nobility or royalty, and often built in enemy territory, so they had to be well protected. The Chateau Chantilly consists of two buildings: the Petit Chateau and the Grand Château. This makes it one of the most popular attractions in the country. The structure of the build..... REF: 210148. • Montaigne During the 14th century, the French castle became heavily fortified. • Tarascon • Trévoux, Billy • Rauzan • Valençay, Amboise Chateau de La Riviere. Some of the more popular things to see here are the production of the Graves wines and the cattle breeding. • Lalinde • Clermont • Ducs des Rohan (Pontivy) • Murs • Moncade • Auriac • Salm Angers Castle (Loire) 2. • Chances • Combourg Our Map of French Castles. • Beauregard • Meung-sur-Loire We love the freedom of having a rental car when we are overseas. • Nomeny • Langoiran • Milandes Along with many other castles in the area, Tenby ceased to have a major military role following King Edward I's pacification of Wales and is thought to have been largely abandoned as a defensive fortification. • Rognac • Trémazan, Bonnefontaine • Vry • Béduer • Sigy-le-Châtel • Polignac • Lacoste If no article appears in either English or French Wikipedias, a link is given to an external website. • Castagnac • Gourville • Touffou, des Allymes • Lassay It was listed as a historic monument in 1840 and major restorations commenced in the 1990s for it to become a historic and cultural centre. Today, the Chateau de Carcassonne become a beloved landmark as one of the most popular castles in southern France. Technically Le Mont Saint Michel isn't a castle, it is an island commune, but many tourists refer to it as a castle, so we thought we would include it here. • Montoire-sur-le-Loir • Ricey-Bas • Couzan These 10 castle hotels are located in authentic French chateaux. • Estarvielle • Bidache • Javarzay • Guirbaden • Auberoche During the 15th-century, it was expanded and an imposing tower, drawbridge and a gatehouse were added. Here is a list of the most attractive of them. • Girsberg • Kagenfels poinasclara. • Montréal (Peyrehorade) • Guilleragues • Corbelin • Harcourt • Fort-la-Latte Dependencies: stable, numerous box, garage, house of friends and carousel. • la Bâtie • Lastours • Montfort • Opme • Saint-Jean-d'Angle • Bonneville Owned by Fumel, this France castle was once a commune of Saint-Front-Sur-Lemance. • Xaintrailles, Bellocq It continued to be passed down to the Amboise family for over 500 years. • La Motte-Glain • Arthaudière • Rousson • Ganges • Vautheau, • Chastellux • Châteaubriant So much so that over 3 million people visit it every year. What makes the Chenonceau castle so unique is that it was mostly designed by a woman! • Saint-Félix-Lauragais • Chabrillan • Rouen • Charry • Saint-Chaptes Perhaps the biggest castle in France, some of the walls of it date back to the 5th century! • Chamaret • Moret We are a family of wanderlusters on a mission to explore the World! • Gizeux • Montcigoux Guided tours of this castle are available. • Saint-Lyé (Evêques de Troyes) To confuse matters, we also have a handful of French châteaux, which are different again. Saumur Castle was one of the few fairytale castles in Europe to inspire Walt Disney for his Sleeping Beauty castle. • Bussy-Rabutin • Saint-Paul-d'Oueil • Ancerville An island some 600 meters off the coast of Normandy, Mont Saint-Michel has been an impregnable... Château de Chambord. • Wittschloessel, Altkirch poinasclara. • Villefranche, Beaucens The list below shows the Châteaux & Castles in the Vendée with a brief description and where possible a link to a page with further details. • Aspach-le-Haut • Chillac • Montreuil-Bellay • Marigny (Fleurville) • Labastide-Paumès • Ventadour Surrounded by forests homing wild... Palace of Versailles. It was originally built in the 10th century which makes it one of France’s oldest castles. 2020's top castles in South of France include Palais des Papes, Chateau de Castelnaud + Chateau des Milandes. • Bressuire • Commarin • Vogüé, Alleuze • Homps • Saint-Léon • Montaiguillon • Albon • Niort-de-Sault • Largoët “ Having the opportunity to dress up like a knave, lady or lord complete with wooden sword and shield, even if you're an adult, sets the mood for a fun visit. • Pierre II (Guingamp) • Réquistat • Berthier • Goulaine • Chevreaux • Ners • Kérouzéré • Montrond • Cherveux Charles l d’Amboise had it rebuilt in the 15th century. It once housed the Mona Lisa and other collections from the Louvre to keep them safe during World War II. • Bouillé Floor Size: 743 square metres; Plot Size: 12,714 square metres (1.27 hectares / 3.14 acres) Bedrooms: 10; More Info. TrustedHousesitters. • Luc • Sales • Taillebourg • Castelnou • Tonquédec, Bertheaume • Noyers • Beaucaire • Grangent • Greifenstein • Frœnsbourg • Saint-Jean-du-Marché, Angoulême The iconic French chateau, Chambord is also the biggest and (being also the nearest to Paris) the most visited of the Loire châteaux. • Châlus-Chabrol Castle Vichy (03) Nineteenth castle of 680 sqm fully and luxuriously restored. • Châtillon TrustedHousesitters. • Sully-sur-Loire Occasionally, where there is not a specific article on a castle, links are given to another article that includes details, typically an article on a town. • Poncin All Rights Reserved.Our Story | Contact Us | Family Travel Group |Work with Us | In the NewsPrivacy Policy | Disclaimer | Sitemap. • Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne • Largentière These castle hotels in France are perfect for a romantic break away, whilst some chateaux are available for exclusive use, perfect for taking friends or family away for a truly extraordinary break in France! The Château de Cheverny is well-known part of the châteaux of the Loire valley and was built in 17th century owned by Philippe Hurault. • Usson, Aguilar • Petite-Pierre • Saint-Fargeau, Ainay-le-Vieil • Châtillon-Coligny • La Courbe • Puy-Launay • Bouvées • Bilstein It sits on the shore of Scotland’s longest sea loch, Loch Fyne, and it was one of the first buildings in the Gothic Revival movement, which became one of the most influential and popular architectural styles in history. Henry VIII had a hand in the devastation of Hastings Castle as well. If you are trying to find the best castles in Southern France, you can't get better than Chateau d'Angers. • de Francs • Falkenstein Click HERE to save this listicle to Pinterest! • Maintenon • Canisy But there are eccentric sculptures spread throughout and a wealth of information on its history, making it a great visit! • Labastide French estate agency selling chateaux, castles, prestige properties, luxury properties in France, castles, lakes, equestrian properties for sale in France, French equestrian properties for sale. • Bonaguil • Pau • Pornic • Fort de Limaie • Virieu, Aulteribe • Ducs d'Alençon • L'Empéri • Petit-Geroldseck • Rochebrune • Durfort In all there are 18 Feudal Castles, 27 Renaissance castles, 8 XVII century and 4 XVIII century castles and Logis. • Waldeck • Chambonneau • Olbreuse • Miral CHATEAUPONSAC 0033 (0) 555 76 40 22 BOURGANEUF 0033 (0) 555 54 00 14. • Villandraut, Châlucet This is a list of castles in France, arranged by Region and Department. • Beaufort • Allinges (vieux) • Le Louvre • Cognac • Joux • Saint-Cassien The tapestries illustrate events from the Book of Revelation in the Bible. • Oberhof • Hierges Permission to grab and use this 17castles to visit in France photo for a video we are doing ? A castle could be a Mediaeval fort or tower; it could be a grand princely affair or even a Victorian gentleman's country residence. The Chateau Villandry has become known for its lush and beautifully curated gardens. • Châteaudun • Eymet Top Things to do in Colmar France (A Complete Colmar Travel Blog), Our Travel Guide to the Chaumont Chateau in the Loire Valley, France. • Peyrepertuse • Labrit Hi, my best recommendation is to look at some Airbnb’s . • Nemours • Landskron • Calamane • Lutzelbourg • Les Marches This monumental chateau in France is one of the 11th-century castles in Brittany, France. Just thought that info might help you figure out which you prefer . • Saint-Thamar Sometimes, a châteaux that’s in ruins or has been abandoned is way more impressive. Here is a list of the best castles in France to visit. • Nadaillac-de-Rouge • Sedan • Cléron • Couffour In late 1995, a study by Guyot's staff revealed the medieval foundations beneath the modern, brick structure, complete with a hypothesized plan of the original castle. The most charismatic of the chateaux of the Loire Valley. In the Middle Ages, castles were designed for war, not aesthetics or pleasure. Located in Orschwiller, the Haut Koenigsbourg castle proved to be able to protect its inhabitants during intruders throughout the years. • Courcy • Jarnioux • La Ferté-Milon • Irigny • Sainte-Suzanne • La Rochefoucauld French castles and palaces are commonly referred as chateau (chateaux for plural) in France. • Coucy 1. • Saint-Élix-Séglan • Miglos • Montbron • Mareuil • Ramstein The Castle was dismantled by King John in 1216 to prevent it from falling into French hands. • Faugas The number in parentheses after the name of each department indicates the department number used for administrative purposes. • Saint-Cyr • Jouy • Montsoreau • Champsigny • Montcharvin • Quéribus • Lieu-Dieu • Larroque • des Anglais (Brengues) • Montrichard It receives around half a million visitors each year. • Cordès • Jean • Malbrouck • Coudray-Salbart • Tardes We could probably make two or three more lists of beautiful medieval castles from France, but we think these are among the best to visit. • Rully • La Hunaudaye • Citadel of Calais • Châteaurenard • Hamel • Pusignan • Spesbourg • Montluc • Ducs de Joyeuse 2 Inveraray Castle. • Sigy, Beynes The French castle was bought by the town in 1820 and today a town hall and museum are located here. • Oliferne • Bellegarde We tried to find a website for every castle to provide more information and pictures. Will credit you as our source. • Vitré, Comper • Chassy (Montreuillon) • Le Rivau • Ranton • La Chapelle-Bertrand • Bayac • Verteuil • Saint-Côme-d'Olt • Chamelet • La Roche-sur-Foron • Vendres, des Anglais (Autoire) • Château-Chervix Most of these France castles will cost you a small fee to visit and you could also choose to enjoy one of the audio tours if you would like to learn more about their history. In 1862 it became classified as a historic monument. • Montaner She wants to share her stories in the hope to inspire you to chase your own dreams! • Plas • Thorigné-en-Charnie, Apremont • Lusignan • Lasserre It started to deteriorate and in the 19th century it underwent a restoration, but much of the original character of the Pierrefonds castle still remains. • Montbéliard This palace doesn't boast as much use as some the castles on our list, but all three films the palace was featured in were highly acclaimed. • Hattstatt-Schauenbourg • Bézu • Pouzauges Palais des Papes. • Terraube • Pierreclos • Guise Premiere among them is Avignon Castle, Vincennes Castle and Mont Saint Michel. • Druyes This castle has an interesting beginning. • Haut-Ribeaupierre • Layé Chateau Cheverny is known for it’s Grand Salon paintings and tapestries. Credit: Steve Montgomery, CC-BY-SA-2.0. A European innovation, castles originated in the 9th and 10th centuries and were built by nobles to control the area immediately surrounding them. By far the newest of the castles on this list, Inverary’s foundation stone was placed in 1746, though a castle has existed on the site since the 1500s. If you know some great French castles and fortresses to see and/or visit that are not listed in the article, please share their names by commenting below! Hi Elle, we used to scout out cheaper insurance from other companies because the ones you get with the vehicle is pretty pricey. • Igé Castle. • Bruzac • Latour-sur-Sorgues As a family, as a couple, with friends, find the heritage, live the life of the castle. View Profile. • Montségur • Viverols, Bagnols By Ronak HEGDE , Published: 14 May 2020, 09:59, Updated: 14 May 2020, 06:34 ©L-de-Serres — Château De Chambord France is home to innumerable castles that are also a testament to the lives of its powerful and well-known occupants. • Dissay • Francheville This comprises medieval castles, castle-farms, manors, stately homes, and palaces. • Noirmoutier If yes, was it expensive? • Capdenac It also offers a fine view of the town of Saumur which lies at its foot. • Brieudet French castles and palaces are commonly referred as chateau (chateaux for plural) in France. This historic castle has featured in many TV shows. • Frugie • Dieulouard The castle was bombed by mercenaries of the Swedish army in 1633 and was eventually demolished by the French in 1637, out of fear of seeing it fall into the hands of the Austrian army. • Hardelot • Roquessels Some of the most popular tourist destinations in world are ancient forts, castles, and battlefields. Here is a list of the most attractive of them. • Montbron It is known for being one of the most impressive achievements of 18th century French art and architecture. • Padern • Boussan • Richemont Eupedia Home > France Travel Guide > Most beautiful French medieval castles The most beautiful medieval castles of France; France is renowned for its châteaux, grand estates and stately homes, often converted from older medieval structures. • Saint-Ilpize • Château-Dauphin • Semur-en-Brionnais • Sercy There are many impressive castles in France to visit! • Tournon, Dinan Alphabetical list of castles in Scotland Introduction. • Sarzay The castles typically have beautiful gardens and many still have their original furniture in some rooms inside. Inspiration to see the planet. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Pinterest. • Mont-Saint-Jean • Cazeneuve • Villebois-Lavalette, Aulnay • Ochsenstein Château de Chambord • Sévérac When you rented the vehicle, did you have to get insurance through the rental company? • Sallenôves • Gannat • Rochechinard • Ducs de Lorraine (Sierck) • La Madeleine (Chevreuse) • Diant • Calmont d'Olt • la Roche • Pibrac • le Boy • Vézins, Aiguèze • Vernègues, Beaumont le Vieux • Vieux-Windstein • Montaillou • Robert le Diable • Lichtenberg • Rochetaillée • Virieu, Barollière • Kintzheim Château du Champ de Bataille. • Thomas II • Font-Moreau (Poul) • Mousson • Courtalain • La Tour du Bost • Brest • Fallavier • Helfedange Cité de Carcassonne And in France there is no clear distinction between a medieval defensive structure and a royal residential building. These are the Marcher castles found on the English side of the Anglo-Welsh border, many of which were constructed specifically to help control this often volatile and much-contested region. • Grand-Besse • Marcilly-la-Gueurce • Pisy • le Fou • Bonneval • Rochefort-en-Valdaine • Woippy, Bruyères It is one of the most visited medieval castles in France! • Sassy • Époisses • Nieul-lès-Saintes • Larroque-Toirac • Carbonat • Saint-Germain-Beaupré, Airvault With the aid of sculptor-architect of Blois, Jacques Bougier, the construction was finished in 1630. • Saint-Hilaire Palace of Fontainebleau, 77300 Fontainebleau. • Gavaudun • Lacoste • Fontenoy-le-Château • l'Isleau • Briançon This castle near Paris is not a royal residence but it hosted kings … • Sauveterre (Château des Rois ducs) • Montcony • Gisors This comprises medieval castles, castle-farms, manors, stately homes, and palaces. • Saint-Alban You can also pick up your rental car in one location and drop it off in a different destination (a small one-way fee will be applicable). • Bourdeilles • Celle-Guenand French castles and chateaux have a unique style of decor, either blending styles from various periods when the home was renovated or keeping the same style throughout from when the home was first built. The castles are spread our all over France and as we all know France is a big country to visit! • L'Échelle • Montbrun • Beauregard • Génos Alsace comprises two departments, Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin, by the order of which this list is organised. • Vienne-le-Château, Bainville-aux-Miroirs • La Roche • Coupiac There are approximately 40,000 châteaux in France. • Vissec, Castles in Gers [This article includes Avensac, Balarin, Bassoues, Beaumont, Berrac, Bivès, Cassaigne, Castelmore, Castéra-Lectourois, Castet-Arrouy, Courrensan, Epas, Esclignac, Garranée, Gimbrède, Homps, Lagardère, Larroque-Engalin, Lasserre, Leberon, L'Isle-Bouzon, Maniban, Mansencôme, Mazères, la Mothe, Mothes, Pouypardin, Pouylebon, Pouy-Roquelaure, Pujos, Sainte-Gemme, Saint-Georges, Saint-Lary, Saint-Martin-d'Armagnac, Savignac, Sempesserre, Sérillac, Tauzia] • Folleville • Lutzelhardt • Théron • Lacataye • Châtel-sur-Moselle One of the most famous and spectacular castles in the Loire valley. • Solidor Tower • Lissieu However the word chateau has a broad meaning as in France the word also refers to smaller manor houses. Krak des Chevaliers was built during the 12th and 13th centuries by the Knights Hospitaller with later additions by Mamluks. Castles developed over an extensive period of five centuries. Home » 17 of the Best Castles in France to Visit! • Lagarde • Montafilan • Bridoire • Condat This list of castles in Alsace is a list of medieval castles or château forts in the region in northern France.. Alsace comprises two departments, Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin, by the order of which this list is organised. • Doumely This is a great opportunity to explore two French Renaissance castles and get a taste of real French aristocracy from the 16th and 17th century. • Cinq-Mars-la-Pile • Hohenfels • La Tourette • Gençay Louis XIV oversaw this and it marked the beginning of what we would know of “Louis XIV Style” as it’s was the first time that there was such a collaboration of everything from the actual building design to the landscape and interior. Carcassonne Mont Saint-Michel. Chateau d’Usse, located at the edge of the Chinon forest overlooking the Indre Valley was first fortified in the eleventh century by the Norman seigneur of Ussé, Gueldin de Saumur, who surrounded the fort with a palisade on a high terrace. • Ham Donjon de Day • Ramstein • Branzac • Crozant • Allègre Château de Chantilly. Versailles 2. • Bitche Photo source. There are many Castles near Paris which make great day trips from Paris. • Saint-Malo Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. • Dingy In the Middle Ages, leaders constructed massive fortifications to protect their people. • Tournon • Pymont, Bazoches do you have any recommendation for places to sat on a shoe- string budget for seeing all these amazing castles? While many of the grandest French châteaux are located in the Loire Valley, this mid-17th-century palace is in Normandy. • Miolans • Parthenay • Grand-Geroldseck • Seix • Mayrac • La Chapelle-Faucher 2 Inveraray Castle. • Montgilbert • Vaujours, Chaumont-sur-Loire It is located on a Roman settlement that was abandoned! • Dabo • Domeyrat The word itself came from the Latin "castellum" meaning "fortified place." • Savigny-sur-Grosne • Gratot • la Muyre • Chevannes • L'Oisellerie • Chaban Château de Chambord is one of most fascinating chateau and the largest château in the Loire... 3. • Weckmund • Lavardin • Anjony • la Guyonnière • Artias King Philip II of France had peace negotiations at the castle with Richard I of England in the 14th century. • Regnéville • Roquetaillade • Nantouillet • Frôlois • ducs de Bretagne We hope you have managed to pick which of these beautiful chateaux in France you would like to include in your itinerary. • Couches • Budos • Sou For more than 700 years the same family has lived in the Roquetaillade castle. • Septmonts, Bailleulmont • Savigny And in France there is no clear distinction between a medieval defensive structure and a royal residential building. • Pieusse Chateau de Chambord During the 17th century, the Villandry castle became a fortress against attackers. • Sancerre, Anet • la Grande Filolie • Cordon • Landsberg • La Rochecourbon THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. 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