If you are into fairy tales about castles and princesses, France with more than 40,000 castles in total is a place for you to be. Commonly referred to as ‘châteaus’ (residences or manor houses in French), French castles are architectural wonders that embody the rich culture and heritage of France. Whether you are a history buff or would rather enjoy book of dead free and just want to step back in time, add these gems to your French bucket list. Here is a selection of the five most iconic and mind-blowing French castles.
Château de Versailles (Versailles, Paris)
Any list of French castles wouldn’t be complete without the iconic and remarkable Château de Versailles. This magnificent mansion was initially built in 1661 as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII. Later, in 1682 the palace became the residence of the French Royal Family. Visitors of the castle are in awe of the Queen’s bedchamber, from which Marie Antoinette fled, the Grand Apartment of King Louis XVI, the Hall of Mirrors, and beautiful 250-acre gardens. These places are also amazing to craft stunning videos and share them on social media.
Château de Chambord (Chambord, Centre-Val de Loire)
This Renaissance gem is one of the most beautiful castles in the Loire Valley. Château de Chambord dates back to the early 16th century. King Francis I, who ordered to building of a castle as a hunting lodge, was a great admirer of Renaissance art and architecture. The château is an interesting blend of Renaissance and French medieval architecture with a unique double helix staircase, over 400 (!) amazingly furnished rooms, and beautiful towers. The châteaux fell into a state of neglect after the French Revolution, but today tourists are lucky to admire this unique castle.
Château de Mont Saint-Michel (Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy)
Mont Saint-Michel is not just a castle, but a huge fortress in the form of a mighty island rising above the river Cusnon. And if you are lucky enough to be on vacation in France, then be sure to take a look at this huge structure, located right on the eighty-meter cliff on the border of Normandy. By the way, the name of the castle translates as “St. Michael’s Mountain”. The construction of the castle is connected with a legend. According to this legend Archangel Michael himself appeared to one of the French archbishops in dreams and asked him to build a fortress on a rock, which would rise above sea level.
Château de Angers (Angers, Maine-et-Loire)
Many French people call Château d’Angers nothing less than a national landmark and architectural marvel. And it is amazing. Its location is unique: it is a hill formed from slate rocks and rising above the Men River. The castle has had several owners and changed hands frequently. So, initially, Count Joffroy erected a huge building with an intricate pentagonal shape. But later, King Philip the II., who seized the territory, decided to re-equip the structure and strengthen it to protect it from raids.
Château de Chenonceau (Chenonceaux, Centre-Val de Loire)
Chenonceau is another magnificent embodiment of the Renaissance, which impresses with its grandeur and refinement of the exterior and interior decoration. Everything is luxurious here: facades, magnificent decor, impressive size and scope, decor, and antique furniture. It was built on the river Cher in the eleventh century and often changed owners until it was presented to Diane de Poitiers.
Looking for more French gems? Here are the other 10 of the most visited French castles and châteaus.
- Château de Fontainebleau (Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne)
- Château de Pierrefonds (Pierrefonds, Oise)
- Château de Chantilly (Chantilly, Oise)
- Château de Villandry (Villandry, Indre-et-Loire)
- Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg (Orschwiller, Bas-Rhin)
- Château de Vincennes (Vincennes, Paris)
- Château d’Amboise (Amboise, Indre-et-Loire)
- Château de Cheverny (Cheverny, Loir-et-Cher)
- Château de Saumur (Saumur, Maine-et-Loire)
- Château Royal de Blois (Blois, Loir-et-Cher)
And which is the most beautiful French château in your opinion?