Being one of the largest countries in Europe, France is also known as ‘the Centre of high culture and is acknowledged for its impeccable cuisine, art, fashion, cultural heritage, and beautiful historical, monumental buildings.
There are over 40,000 castles from between the 7th and 21st centuries, all over the country, with each one representing a different story.
Castles often exhibit the authority and wealth of important people who lived there, such as the kings and lords, as well as their families and staff.
10 Most Beautiful Castles in France
1. The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles, now a national landmark owned by the French State, is located in Versailles, Yvelines département, France.
The estate is listed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization UNESCO World Heritage site.
The palace was built by King Louis XIV in the 16th century and was used as a former royal residence.
This fortress is one of the most popular tourist attractions in France today.
Besides the extraordinary architecture, there is much more to the Palace of Versailles, including multiple museums, hotels, restaurants with French-inspired cuisine, of course, boutiques, the garden, and the park landscape surrounding the estate.
2. The Chambord Castle
The Château de Chambord is a recognizable castle located in the Loire Valley, France.
The estate is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Building work first began in the 15th century by Francis I, who was known to be the first Renaissance king of the country.
The citadel was originally designed to be a hunting lodge but remained unused and unfurnished for decades to come.
After Francis I’s death and the castle standing empty for over 500 years, the government eventually gained ownership.
In recent decades, now controlled by the French state, there has been remarkable work done on the castle, and it is now a popular tourist attraction.
The castle is known for having French Renaissance architecture.
Apart from the interior, you can enjoy a stroll down the exceptional garden and parks surrounding the edges of Château de Chambord or stop by the restaurant or shops.
3. The Carcassonne Castle
Carcassonne is a hilltop medieval castle, located in Carcassonne, Aude, Occitanie, France.
It can be seen from many locations surrounding the area.
The citadel has been here since the 11th century and was built by Cathars.
It has about 52 look-out towers surrounded by a 3 km intact double row of walls to provide defense and slow down attackers.
Carcassonne was originally a Roman city before it became a medieval city.
The castle was left to be demolished in the 18th century by the French government, but local citizens strongly opposed this choice, which led to the city being reclassified as a historic monument.
It was later restored and made open to the public to visit the many remarkable sites of this castle, such as the museum of fine arts, the restaurant with an interesting menu, a good range of accommodations, and a fantastic library.
4. The Chenonceau Castle
The Chenonceau castle, also nicknamed ‘the lady’s chateau’, is located in Chenonceaux, France.
The castle was built in the 15th century, spanning the river Cher.
From 1914 to 1918, it was transformed and used as a military hospital.
The estate was sold to a member of the Memier family, who still owns it to this day.
Today the castle is open and holds many things for the public to explore, such as the beautiful architectural interior, outstanding restaurants with top-tier cuisine, libraries, art galleries, and gardens.
5. The Palace of Fontainebleau
The Palace of Fontainebleau is a medieval palace, located in the commune of Fontainebleau, France.
The castle was first built in the 12th century, originally as a hunting lodge for the French kings, but was discontinued.
Later, in the 16th century, King Francios I arranged the reconstruction of the medieval fortress and replaced it with the Renaissance palace we know today.
The palace is now open to the public with over 1500 rooms, which makes it one of the largest French royal châteaux.
There are many must-see sightings, such as the gallery, also known as ‘the Diana Gallery’, the museum, the garden, courtyards, and parks surrounding the estate.
6. The Montrésor Castle
The Castle of Montrésor is a medieval fortress looking over the river, located in Montrésor, France.
The castle-building work started in the 10th century and was constructed to be used as a defense mechanism against potential attackers.
Besides the Renaissance architecture, this castle holds many fascinating expeditions for the public to explore, such as the library, over 25 rooms dedicated to art and hunting, and, strolling down the garden.
7. The Roquetaillade Castle
The Roquetaillade castle is a medieval fortress, located in Mazères, France.
It was built in the early 12th century to be used as a fortress.
After over 700 years, the castle is still privately owned by the Roquetaillade family and is being maintained and promoted by them as a public attraction.
The castle has been open to the public since 1956 and is one of the most visited sights in the Bordeaux region.
Interestingly, the Bordeaux region is also one of the world’s most famous wine regions, most known for Bordeaux wine.
The castle is open to visitors all year round.
It is an architectural masterpiece and well worth a visit.
Besides being packed full of architectural history, the castle has many other must-see sights for you, like the towers, dungeons, museums, chapel, restaurants as well and the garden surrounding the estate.
8. The Castle of Cheverny
The castle of Cheverny is located in Cheverny, France.
It was built in the early 17th century for dog hunting and is still used for that purpose today.
There are over 70 hounds who need to get exercise and be fed on a daily basis.
Besides the remarkable Renaissance architecture, there are more highlights to this estate, such as the library which stores over 2000 antique books, a museum, the garden which includes a large park, and a maze popular for children surrounding the castle and, feeding the hounds.
9. The Castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte
The castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte is located in Maincy, France.
It was built in the 16th century, and it is one of the largest monuments in France, which has been privately family-owned for 150 years.
The castle is a symbol of the wealthy and successive families who owned the estate.
It is currently owned by the Vogüé and has been a domain in their family for 5 generations.
The castle is well known for its landscape and architectural design.
A visit to this city not only includes seeing the underground Styx River, garden, panoramic dome, and carriage but also the library and self-serving restaurant.
10. The Castle of Chantilly
The Castle of Chantilly is a medieval fortress located in Chantilly, France.
The fortress is surrounded by 7,800 hectares of land and is located north of Paris.
The building work started in the 13th century on a small rocky island in an artificial lake, Henri of Orléans.
The castle was originally a paid tribute to the rich culture.
Its magnificent reading and music room, art gallery, maze, and garden have been opened to the public and have been considered to be a historic monument since 1988.
The medieval fortress has an art gallery named Musée Condé that houses some of the finest art in France.
This is a destination that is well worth the visit and makes an excellent day trip outside of Paris.
For travelers with a long layover at Charles de Gaulle airport, this also makes a great day’s excursion.
The fortress became most known for its fine lacework and porcelain.
France Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: France Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
- SCAMS RISK: HIGH
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a current royal family in France?
No, there are no families currently recognized by the French state.
It has also been established that there is no longer a legal existence or status of French nobility.
There will also likely never be another King on the French throne in your lifetime.
What is the most visited castle in France?
The most famous palace in France is the Palace of Versailles.
It is also one of the most visited palaces in the world, attracting tourists from every corner of the globe, annually to marvel at its architecture, history, and beautiful furniture.
Will France become a monarchy again?
The short answer is no, the monarchy will likely never return again since it would change the entire French political system.
Revolutionaries believed the king was corrupt and wanted to replace the monarchy with a republic.
Who was the last royal family in France?
King Louis XVI was the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy in 1792 and his execution.
Later, his son Louis Charles was named titular king but was later also sentenced to death after being found guilty of treason and refusing to cede his royal power to the revolutionary government.
Who was the most famous French royal?
The most famous and powerful French ruler of France was Louis XIV, who was also known as the “Sun King” for choosing the sun as his personal emblem.
He imagined himself as a light illuminating the way to greatness and that all the power was within him.
King Louis XIV reigned over France for 72 years, longer than any other known European sovereign.
Even after starting wars, bombing cities and commanding complete loyalty, and imposing his vision on his country without any consideration of the possible consequences, he was still the most famous known ruler of the 17th century in France for having such a fierce will to make his subjects obey him and ultimately wanted his kingdom to have supreme power in France.
Vaux-le-Vicomte is one of a kind. only a short trip from Paris and it’s totally worth it. the place is just stunning.