Since the Middle Ages, France has been and remains a country of castles, the birthplace of kings, true knights and fairy tales. The architecture of French castles is many-sided and varied. Each of them is historical evidence of the formation of European civilization, modern culture, science and art.

Château de Châteauneuf Built in 1132 and rebuilt in 1457 in Gothic architectural style, the castle is located in the valley of the Burgundy Canal on a stone ledge 475 meters high.

Culan (Château de Culan) The fortress, which has survived to this day, began to be built at the end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th centuries. And this construction continued until the 15th century.

Château de Châteaudun The residence of the Counts of Dunois was built in the 12th-16th centuries. Among the unique frescoes of the castle, the majestic fresco of the Last Judgment on one of the walls of the southern chapel in the Great Chapel stands out.

The Italians he invited to complete the work were the first to bring Renaissance architecture to France. It is believed that it was in Amboise that the first regular garden outside Italy appeared.

Chinon (Château de Chinon) One of the royal castles of the Loire was built on the site of former Roman fortifications and consists of three parts, built according to historical need. In the 17th century, the fortress belonged to Cardinal Richelieu.

Loches (Château de Loches) The oldest surviving donjon in France is distinguished by its massiveness and quadrangular shape. It was built in the 9th century by the aforementioned Fulk Nerra, an Angevin count.

Rivau Castle became fortified in the 15th century and then, during the Renaissance, was remodeled according to the standards of humanist architecture. He was famous for the high quality of local horses.

Chaumont-sur-Loire (Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire) An amazingly beautiful fortress stands on the banks of the Loire, between the cities of Amboise and Blois, and annually hosts guests of the International Garden Festival.

Montbéliard (Château de Montbéliard) On the site of the castle already in the times of the Gallo-Romans there was a fortification and observation tower. In 1793, the fortress became part of revolutionary France.

Conciergerie (La Conciergerie) Former the Royal Castle and the prison is located in the very center of Paris and is part of the Palais de Justice complex, which still houses municipal services, the court and the prosecutor's office.

Louvre (Palais du Louvre) An ancient royal castle in Paris, rebuilt into a palace, located on the right bank of the Seine. Today it is one of the richest museums in the world.

Vincennes Castle (Château de Vincennes) The fortress was built for the kings of France in the XIV-XVII centuries. In the 18th century, a prison was located in its building. Among the famous prisoners: Duke de Beaufort, Nicolas Fouquet, Marquis de Sade, Diderot and Mi

Malbrouck (Château de Malbrouck) The castle received its name from John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, commander of the English troops on the continent during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714).

Angers Castle (Château d`Angers) The castle is famous for its Apocalypse series of tapestries, which has become one of the “regional wonders of France”.

If (Château d`If) Originally a building built in 1524-1531. by order of King Francis I, is now one of the “ business cards» Marseille was a military fort. From the end of the 16th century, the castle began to be used for isolation.

Thanks to the popular novel by Alexandre Dumas - “The Count of Monte Cristo” - written in 1844-1845. and describing the long-term imprisonment of the protagonist in the Château d'If, since the opening of the fort to visitors in 1890.

Lichtenberg (Château de Lichtenberg) The castle, built in the 14th century, was thoroughly rebuilt 2 centuries later by order of the owners - the Counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg. The modification was carried out by a team of famous architects led by Daniel Speck

Saint-Ulrich (Château de Saint-Ulrich) The castle is located at an altitude of 528 m above sea level and dates back to the 11th century. In the 12th century, the dungeon was completed, and a century later - the knight's hall and tower. The outer walls and chapel appeared in the XIV-XV centuries

Binac (Château de Beynac) The castle, built on a limestone cliff in the 12th century, is one of the best preserved in the Dordogne region. Known for his collection of tapestries depicting hunting scenes.

Upper Kœnigsbourg (Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg) This historical and architectural monument was built in the Romanesque style. Currently, the building is used as a historical museum.

Aulteribe (Château d`Aulteribe) Built at the end of the Middle Ages, the castle was reconstructed and restored in the second half of the 19th century. In 1954, the Marquis de Pierre bequeathed the castle to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Chazeron (Château de Chazeron) According to legend, on the top of the hill where the castle now stands, there used to be a holy spring, over which a temple was built in ancient times. The first mention of a fortified structure dates back to the 4th century BC

Cordès (Château de Cordès) ​​The 15th-century castle was rebuilt by order of a French marshal two centuries later. Then he acquired luxurious rose gardens and hedges.

Ravel (Château de Ravel) A former 12th-century royal fortress with a stunning park designed by landscape architect André Le Nôtre, it is also famous among travelers for its collection of rare 19th-century ceramics.

Creully (Château de Creully) The building, built in the 11th century, until the 14th century looked more like an agricultural building than a defensive fortress. Until the 17th century, the castle was rebuilt several times.

Falaise (Château de Falaise) The first traces of stone fortifications discovered during local excavations date back to the 10th century, which suggests the castle of William the Conqueror, built in a typical Anglo-Norman style.

During its history, the fortress underwent three major reconstructions, as a result of which it acquired three dungeons. At different times, the castle was financed by such French kings as Henry I, Henry II and Philip II Augustus.

Grato (Château de Gratot) The 13th-century castle is a rectangular building surrounded by a wide moat. After the French Revolution it was abandoned. Later, for a long time, it was used as a storage facility for livestock feed.

Carrouges (Château de Carrouges) The family, after whose surname the pink brick castle with a granite facade and a water-filled moat was named, lived in it from the 14th century until 1936.

Egilly (Château d`Éguilly) The castle with six towers and a fortress wall was erected in the 12th century on the site of a Gallo-Roman wooden fortification. In the 15th century it served as the residence of the archbishop.

Gevrey-Chambertin (Château de Gevrey-Chambertin) The 11th century castle, equipped with a winery, was for a long time part of the monastic abbey of Cluny. In the spring of 2012, the fortress was purchased by a Chinese investor for €8 million.

Bourdelle (Château de Bourdeilles) The complex consists of two castles. The first one, built in the Middle Ages at the beginning of the 13th century, is a manor house with an octagonal tower and fortified walls. The second is the Renaissance.

Castelnaud-la-Chapelle (Château de Castelnaud-la-Chapelle) During the Hundred Years' War, the 13th-century castle was assigned to the Caumont family until the French Revolution, after which it was first abandoned and then converted into a quarry.

Erme (Château de l`Herm) Built between 1500 and 1530 in the heart of the forest, the castle long belonged to the Calvimont family. Excavations recent years showed that in its place earlier there may have been more ancient structures

Jumilhac (Château de Jumilhac) Since its construction in the 16th century, the castle has belonged to the La Tour Du Pin family and is constantly being restored by them. The fortress is adjacent to amazing French gardens.

Milandes (Château des Milandes) The castle on the left bank of the Dordogne River was founded in 1489 for his wife by François Caumont, one of the representatives of the above-mentioned family of lords.

After the French Revolution, the castle was abandoned for a long time, and at the beginning of the 20th century it was bought and began to be restored by a French industrialist who made a fortune in underwear.

Puymartin (Château de Puymartin) The castle was built at the beginning of the 13th century and completely rebuilt in 1450 by Raymond Saint-Claire.

La Brede (Château de La Brède) The Gothic castle, surrounded by a moat and equipped with defensive systems, was built in the 16th century. In 1689, the famous French writer and thinker Montesquieu was born in La Brede.

Cazeneuve (Château de Cazeneuve) The castle was built on the rocky bank of the Siron River in the 11th century and for a long time served as the residence of the kings of Navarre. In particular, it was there that Queen Margot was imprisoned.

Roquetailade Castle, which was owned by one single family for 700 years, was opened to the public in 1956.

Nérac (Château de Nérac) The construction of the castle in the Renaissance style was completed during the reign of Jeanne d'Albret, Queen of Navarre. During the French Revolution, the building was dismantled with the exception of the northern wing.

Montaner (Château de Montaner) The castle was built in the 14th century by order of the feudal lord Gaston Phoebus. Now in summer time Numerous events are organized on the territory of the fortress.

Morlanne (Château de Morlanne) Another castle from the defensive system of structures built by order of Gaston Phoebus, is a brick wall framing a manor house.

Pau (Château de Pau) The castle, rising in the center of the city of the same name, is the birthplace of Henry IV and was built in the Middle Ages. The building currently houses the National Museum.

Billy (Château de Billy) The castle on the banks of the Allier River once served as the habitat of early representatives of the Bourbon dynasty. However, the exact date of its construction is unknown - presumably it is the 13th century.

and Palice (Chateau De La Palice) The feudal castle was built in the 13th century and belonged to the squire Roger Palice, whose descendants became related to the Bourbons a century later.

The castle is famous for its fully furnished interiors, as well as its magnificent gardens, rebuilt in the 19th century by landscape architect Paul Lavenne.

Thoury (Château de Thoury) The fortification, built in the 15th century by the Lords of Thoury, later passed to the Conni family, who still own it.

Château d`Anjony This volcanic stone battle fortress, built on the banks of the Dora River, consists of a main tower, which is surrounded by four secondary, crenellated turrets.

Val (Château de Val) The 13th-century castle originally belonged to the chamberlain of Charles VII. Subsequent owners changed quite often, until in 1953 the building finally went to the tourism trade union.

It is worth noting that the building is surrounded by an artificial lake, and every year, during floods, the water reaches the fortress walls. The castle appears in the films The Captain (1960) and Frankenstein 90 (1984).

La Rochepot (Château de la Rochepot) Throughout the history of its existence, the 13th-century knight's castle in the neo-Gothic style has repeatedly changed hands. In 1893, the fortress was acquired by the wife of French President Sadi Carnot.

Château de Rosières The fortified estate of the Burgundian princes, once surrounded by walls and a deep moat, was eventually purchased in 1980 by the Bergerot family, who opened a guest house in the castle.

Corbelin (Château de Corbelin) Throughout its history, the 12th century castle was of great historical and economic importance at the local level.

Baller (Château de Balleure) Burgundian castle of the 14th century is a rectangle surrounded by round and square towers. Currently, the structure belongs to a private owner and is closed to the public.

Berzé (Château de Berzé) The castle is the largest and best preserved of the Burgundian fortresses. In the Middle Ages it was of strategic importance. Consists of three buildings, thirteen towers and two dungeons.

Brandon (Château de Brandon) A 12th-century castle located on a hilltop in the town of Saint-Pierre-de-Varennes, Saône-et-Loire region, has been owned by the French Jouvancel family for 2 centuries. Periodically restored, it is open to visitors.

Lugny (Château de Lugny) In the Middle Ages, the castle was surrounded by several towers and moats, and was also equipped with a dungeon. During the French Revolution, the fortifications were burned.

Rully (Château de Rully) The first mention of construction in this area dates back to 851. The castle itself appeared at the end of the 14th century; and in XIX century, after dismantling the moat, drawbridge and main gate, it acquired a modern look

Saint-Fargeau (Château de Saint-Fargeau) The red brick castle, whose construction began in 980, annually hosts guests of the historical festival.

Dinan (Château de Dinan) Construction of the 30-meter high donjon, better known as Queen Anne's Castle, began in 1384 under the auspices of John IV, Duke of Brittany.

Bonnefontaine (Château de Bonnefontaine) Construction of the elegant castle with high windows and carved frames began at the end of the 11th century. The fortress acquired its modern appearance 5 centuries later with the permission of King Henry II.

The unique English-style park was designed in the 19th century by popular landscape architects Denis Bühler and Eduard Andre. Among the crops growing in the garden are: mahogany, Chinese yew, and swamp cypress.

Fort-la-Latte One of the most famous castles in Brittany, rising on Cape Friel, Côtes d'Armor region, was built between 1340 and 1370. On the road leading to the castle there is a menhir called the finger of Gargantua.

Many films were filmed in the fortress and its surroundings, including: The Three Musketeers (1948), The Vikings (1957), Lancelot of the Lake (1974), Mockery (1996), Tristan and Isolde (1998) ), “Secret Lover” (2007), as well as the series “Hawk” (2

La Hunaudaye (Château de la Hunaudaye) A pentagonal castle with a moat, a drawbridge and five towers was founded in 1220. Heavily destroyed during the French Revolution, at the beginning of the 20th century it was used as a quarry.

Brest Oldest building The city of Brest in the Finistère region traces its history back to the appearance at the end of the 3rd century of Roman defensive fortifications on the site of the current castle.

Kérouzéré (Château de Kérouzéré) The two-storey granite castle was built between 1425 and 1458 by John Kérouzéré, chamberlain to King John V. The surrounding area includes a park with a fountain, a well, a dovecote and

Combourg (Château de Combourg) The popular writer François René de Chateaubriand spent his youth in this castle, who immortalized not only the fortress interiors and life in his memoirs.

The castle was thoroughly plundered during the French Revolution and was partially restored only in late XIX century. At the same time, the fortress park was rebuilt - it was taken up by the famous landscape architect Denis Buhler.

Fougères (Château de Fougères) One of the largest French castles, covering an area of ​​2 hectares, was built in the 12th century on a rocky hill in the middle of a swamp, which acts as a natural moat.

Vitré (Château de Vitré) A powerful 11th-century fortification rises on a rocky promontory overlooking the valley of the Vilaine River. Having survived several fires and related transformations, the fortress acquired its modern appearance only in 1912

Josselin (Château de Josselin) The first version of the castle was built in 1008 by a representative of the family of counts of Rennes. Since then, the fortress has been rebuilt several times, playing the role of an alchemical center, a monastery of Protestantism, or a prison.

Currently, the lower floor of the citadel is an exhibition of antiques - furniture, family portraits, royal gifts. The stables have been converted into a Puppet Museum. A real masterpiece is park ensemble castle

Trecesson (Château de Trécesson) The 14th century castle is surrounded by a wide moat. The main entrance across the bridge is decorated with two towers and a gallery. Several legends are associated with the fortress - including the one about the ghost of the White Lady, who was killed in the 18th century, inhabiting

Azay-le-Ferron (Château d`Azay-le-Ferron) The 15th-century Renaissance castle is perfectly preserved and is famous for its collections of furniture and household items, as well as a magnificent French park with masterpieces of topiary art.

Ussé (Château d`Ussé) A 15th-century building - one of the castles of the Loire, erected on the banks of its tributary, the Indre River - combines two architectural styles - medieval Gothic and Renaissance.

It was Usset who served as a source of inspiration for Charles Perrault to describe the castle of Sleeping Beauty - one of the storyteller’s friends owned this fortress for some time.

Château du Moulin Built between 1480 and 1501 for Philippe of Moulin, a childhood friend of King Charles VIII, by the court architect Jacques de Persigny, the castle is made of orange and black brick.

Sully-sur-Loire (Château de Sully-sur-Loire) The first written mention of the castle dates back to 1102 - it controlled the bridge over the Loire and disappeared from the face of the earth in the 14th century. Construction of the new fortress began in 1396.

Tonquédec (Château de Tonquédec) The majestic heritage of the Breton feudal lords dates back to the 12th century. Currently, the castle belongs to private owners, but it can be rented for filming films and photo shoots.

Doumely (Château de Doumely) A 15th-century stronghold overlooking the countryside, this is a fortress with four towers and a beautiful garden. During the World Wars it was used as a hospital and prison. Now it is privately owned.

Landreville (Château de Landreville) The castle with four towers, a moat and a park of 4 hectares was built in the middle of the 16th century and has remained practically untouched to this day. The territory also has a stable and two pavilions.

Sedan (Château de Sedan) One of the largest fortresses Europe was built in 1424 on the banks of the Meuse River, includes four defensive bastions and covers an area of ​​more than 35 thousand square meters.

During World War I, the castle was used as a camp for thousands of French and Belgians sentenced to forced labor by the German authorities. Today the castle houses a museum and a three-star hotel.

Montmort (Château de Montmort) A 15th-century brick castle protected by a double moat, located near the famous vineyards of Champagne. There is a bastion in each corner of the fortress wall. The ensemble is completed by a three-arch bridge and a special

Besançon (Citadelle de Besançon) The Citadel is one of the masterpieces of Sébastien Le Prêtre de Vauban, military engineer to King Louis XIV, and the center modern tourism in the Franche-Comté region - about 280 thousand people visit this place every year

The castle was built between 1668 and 1683 on Mount Saint-Etienne. The thickness of the fortress walls reaches 5-6 meters, their height ranges from 15 to 20 meters. Currently, there are several museums inside the citadel, as well as a zoo.

Château de Cléron Built in 1320 on the site of a Gallo-Roman fortification, the castle underwent significant changes in the 18th century, but retained its medieval structure. Owned by the Montrichard family.

Fort de Joux An 11th-century fort perched on the edge of the Pontarlier gorge, it was probably built by relatives of the Burgundian princes. At the end of the reign of Louis XV and until the fall of Napoleon I, the fort was used as a state prison.

During the First World War, the castle served as a deterrent to enemy troops. During World War II it was occupied by the Germans, then abandoned as too outdated for modern weapons.

Château de Chevreaux The 12th-century castle, located at an altitude of 473 meters, offers stunning views of the Bresse plain. Since 1990, in a fortress that was thoroughly looted and dilapidated at the beginning of the 17th century.

Dieppe (Château de Dieppe) The castle on the edge of a cliff was built in 1188 to protect the sea coast of Normandy. During the French Revolution it served as a prison. During the First and Second World Wars, he performed military functions.

Blandy-les-Tours (Château de Blandy-les-Tours) The first written mention of the castle dates back to 1216. In the 4th century, the appearance of the fortress underwent significant changes, financed by Charles V and Charles VI.

In 1764, the castle, now considered a symbol of French Protestantism, was sold to Cesar Choiseul-Praslin, minister of Louis XV. The French Revolution passed unnoticed for the fortress.

Nangis (Château de Nangis) The castle was built in 1436 by Charles VII. During the Hundred Years' War, the building served as a defensive fortification for the people of the suburb. To date, only the left wing of the original building has survived.

Nemours (Château de Nemours) The 12th-century castle on the left bank of the Loing River is perfectly preserved, having avoided, unlike many of its contemporaries, dismantling for one reason or another.

La Madeleine (Château de la Madeleine) The construction of the castle above the Chevreuse valley took place between 1030 and 1090. It was designed to protect the city from robbery and already in the 12th century it acquired stone walls and a tower, as well as a moat and drawbridges.

In the 20th century, the castle was converted into the headquarters of the regional natural park From the Vallée de Chevreuse, whose modern architecture fits perfectly into the medieval fortification without affecting it.

Dourdan (Château de Dourdan) The castle, located in the center of the city of the same name and surrounded by a moat, was built between 1220 and 1222 by King Philip II Augustus.

In the second half of the 16th century, during the religious wars, the castle was plundered by Protestants. In 1611, Louis XIII bought the fortress for his mother, Marie de Medici.

Beaumont-sur-Oise (Château de Beaumont-sur-Oise) The first written mention of the largest castle in the Oise River valley dates back to 953. Throughout its existence, the fortress was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.

La Roche-Guyon (Château de La Roche-Guyon) From the 10th to the 15th centuries, the castle on the right bank of the Seine was owned by the family of the same name, one of whose representatives at one time served as a vassal of King Philip II Augustus.

TO XVII century The castle completely loses its defensive functions and becomes a secular residence. In 1659, it passed to François VII de La Rochefoucauld, the son of the famous French writer and moral philosopher, François VI de La Rochefoucauld.

Arch (Château d`Arques) A ​​four-story 14th-century donjon, 25 meters high, with a spiral staircase inside, it was built after the crusade against the Albigenses.

Quéribus (Château de Quéribus) A 10th-century fortress stands on a rock formation at an altitude of 728 meters above sea level. The first restoration work on the castle began in the 1950s.

La Caze (Château de La Caze) A 15th-century Renaissance castle located in the Tarn Gorge. During the French Revolution it was used as a prison, in our time it has been converted into a four-star hotel.

Château du Champ Castle of the 13th century, significantly rebuilt in the 15th and XVIII centuries, rises on a rocky promontory of the Altier River at an altitude of 734 meters above sea level and is now part of the Cévennes National Park.

Florac (Château de Florac) Another castle located in national park Cevennes, was built in the 13th century, but was completely destroyed during the religious wars of the 17th century.

Luke (Château de Luc) The 12th century castle was destroyed in 1630 by order of Cardinal Richelieu. Two centuries later, in 1878, the tower, standing on the ruins, was converted into a chapel of the Virgin Mary, whose statue still serves as the top of the donjon

Sals (Forteresse de Salses) The military structure on the border of France and Catalonia was built between 1497 and 1502 by order of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile - the royal couple.

In 1642, the bastion with brick walls 6 to 10 meters wide was captured by the French. And already in 1659, together with the signing of the Iberian Peace, it lost its strategic importance.

Saint-Saturnin (Château de Saint-Saturnin) In written sources, a castle with three round and one square towers was first mentioned in the 13th century as the estate of the king of France.

Rochechouart (Château de Rochechouart) The owners of the 12th century castle with elements dating back to the 15th century were from the family of the same name for more than 800 years.

One unusual legend is associated with the castle - about Alix, the wife of one of the Viscounts of Rochechouart, who was an exceptionally beautiful and virtuous woman. One day, the castle manager became infatuated with Alix, who rejected his advances.

The enraged viscount threw his wife into the dungeon, where at that moment there were two lions that he had brought from the crusade. A few days later, he went down to the dungeon and saw Alix alive and the lions sleeping next to her.

Château de Cons-la-Grandville The castle, located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle region, is an amazing architectural synthesis of times - from the Romanesque period to the Classical era. Open to the public since 1984.

Gombervaux (Château de Gombervaux) A 14th-century castle surrounded by a moat, it was originally a fortification with four corner towers. Currently, only the façade has been preserved.

Najac Royal fortress with towers over 40 meters high, was built in 1253 by the French prince from the Capetian dynasty, Alphonse de Poitiers, in order to impress the local residents.

In the summer of 1643, the castle found itself at the center of a peasant uprising. In less than 4 months, more than 10 thousand rebel farmers were defeated by the government troops of Jules Mazarin.

Saint-Izaire (Château de Saint-Izaire) The castle was built between 1317 and 1346 and donated to the Abbey of Vabres, to which it belonged until the end of the 18th century.

Laréole (Château de Laréole) The Renaissance-style castle was built from 1579 to 1582 and was originally conceived as a summer residence for recreation and entertainment, not performing any military functions. During the French Revolution,

Pibrac (Château de Pibrac) A brick castle in the Renaissance style was erected in 1540 by the architect Dominique Bachelier on the site of a port fortress that had fallen into disrepair.

In 1897, under the auspices of landscape designer Eugene Bühler, the castle acquired a minimalist English park of 14 hectares with terraces, a swimming pool and hills. You can get to its territory through a brick triumphal arch the time of Henry IV.

Saint-Élix-le-Château (Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château) The castle, combining details of medieval and Renaissance architecture, was built between 1540 and 1548 by the architect Laurent Clary.

Over the centuries, the castle belonged to many families. During World War II, its building was looted and partially burned. The current owner carried out a major restoration in the early 1980s.

Castelnau-Bretenoux The construction of the castle took place over several centuries, from the 12th to the 17th century. The fortress owes its appearance to Baron Hugo de Castelnau.

When the last representative of the Castelnau family died in 1715, the castle was empty for almost 2 centuries. In 1895 the fortress was bought Opera singer, who not only began restoring buildings, but also began collecting a collection of antique furniture.

Larroque-Toirac (Château de Larroque-Toirac) The 12th-century castle is now a private property, but is open to visitors in the summer. Famous for its interiors and fireplaces, as well as unique frescoes XVI century.

Bruniquel (Châteaux de Bruniquel) According to legend, the first fortification in this place was erected by Queen Brunhilda. It was on its ruins that the first “Old Castle”, which belonged to the counts of Toulouse, appeared in the 13th century.

In the middle of the 15th century, a second structure, the “New Castle,” rose on a 90-meter cliff. Both fortresses were burned several times - during religious wars, as well as conflicts of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Foix (Château de Foix) From the 15th to the 18th centuries, the castle housed barracks. Later, the building was completely converted into a prison, known for its inhumane conditions and constant overcrowding.

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The most beautiful castles in France

Beautiful architecture france and fascinates with its magnificence and unsurpassedness. It leaves an indelible mark on the soul of everyone who visits these attractions. Although in English language The word Chateau is translated as castle, in French - this most often means a palace or estate.

Most visited castles of France, including those in the Loire Valley, were built in the Renaissance architectural style. In fact, there are thousands of castles, but we decided to present you only the most unique and unrivaled ones, which millions of tourists from all over the world want to visit. It is in order to plunge into the era of kings, lords, beautiful ladies and rich nobles and take with you indelible impressions of luxury and comfort, it is worth including palaces and castles in your route.

Castle de Chantilly

Castle de Chantilly- one of the most aristocratic residences of the old world era. It is located 40 km from Paris in the commune of Chantilly, in the valley of the Nonet River, a tributary of the Oise River. It is a striking example of the transition from a fortified citadel to beautiful palace. The residence is located on a huge rock, surrounded on all sides by water. Built in 1560, Chantilly is a large number of luxurious rooms, an art gallery, magnificent gardens and impressive stables.

Be sure to visit the Condé Museum - this is one of the best galleries in France. A walk through the pavilions takes visitors through charming gardens with fountains and sculptures. Chantilly Racecourse was used as a filming location in the James Bond film A View to a Kill. Chantilly will also be of interest to gourmets, since the local whipped cream is famous throughout France.

Castle de Chantilly

On southeast on the outskirts of the Compiègne Forest between the cities of Compiègne and Ville-Côtrets there is a fabulous Chateau de Pierrefonds. It is perched on a hill overlooking the picturesque village. The castle is rectangular in plan, its dimensions are 103 m by 88 m, the thickness of the external walls reaches 5 - 6 meters. It contains a monument to Louis of Orleans. There is a coat of arms hall and a hall of knightly ladies. Visitors appreciate all the splendor of the castle, as well as the underground crypt, which contains the remains of several French kings.

The castle served as a film set for such films as Aliens, The Messenger, The Story of Joan of Arc and The Man in the Iron Mask, as well as the TV series Wizards of Waverly Place and Merlin.

Chateau de Chaumont

Chateau de Chaumont located between the cities of Amboise and Blois in the Loire Valley. He can boast of his rich history nothing less than its wonderful appearance.

The castle was first rebuilt in 1465 on the ruins of a 10th-century fortress. But it was soon destroyed after King Louis XI learned that its owner, Pierre Aboise, was involved in a conspiracy against the king. After the castle was restored, several decades later, the wife of King Henry II, Catherine de Medici, acquired the palace. Been there often famous people, such as the astrologer Nostradamus. After that, the castle changed a very large number of owners. Today, visitors can tour the castle to see its exquisite interior, gardens, luxurious stables and scenic view to the Loire River.

Chateau de Chaumont

Chambord Castle

Chambord Castle one of the easily recognizable castles of the Loire. It is one of the best examples of French Renaissance architecture. The name of the architect is unknown, but research proves the participation in the construction of Leonardo da Vinci, who was at that time an architect at the court of King Francis I.

The castle was built in the 16th century as a hunting refuge for the king. The castle has 400 beautiful rooms and 300 fireplaces. Chateau Chambord has many striking features, such as a double spiral staircase and intricate roofs with chimneys, domes, gables and towers that resemble a city. There is a wonderful reserve there, which is a haven for wild boar and deer.

Chambord Castle

Castle of Versailles

The most famous - Versailles castle, very often it is called Palace of Versailles, This building looks so luxurious, both outside and inside. This particular castle is distinguished by its unique integrity of design and harmony of architectural forms, with a beautifully designed landscape. Versailles is the former residence of the French kings.

The palace is very functional. It contains fabulously beautiful halls and corridors lined with 17 mirrored arches. In the queen's bedroom you can see the secret door through which Marie Antoinette escaped during her march on Versailles. Be sure to walk between the 250 arches of the palace gardens, which are designed in geometric patterns of trees, flowers and paths. You will not remain indifferent to this miracle!

The castle was built in 1624 as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII and later expanded to serve as a residence for the French royal family. It became a kind of monument to the era of the “Sun King”, an artistic and cultural expression of the idea of ​​absolutism. The Castle of Versailles attracts more than 3 million visitors a year.

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In Europe, so it’s even difficult to choose which of this beauty is worth visiting. Here are 10 of the most famous and popular castles in France that are definitely worth seeing! Of course, in addition to these ten, there are many castles that will make a lasting impression:

• 10 most beautiful castles in France
• 10 best medieval castle France
• 10 Best Castle Ruins in France

10 best castles in France:

10. Chateau de Foix

The highly fortified Foix Castle is an important tourist attraction in the region, the center of the Cathars. It was built in the Middle Ages and has been known since 987. In 1034 the castle became the capital of the county of Foix and played an important role in the medieval military history. Towers were gradually added to further protect the fortress. The castle's two square towers, built before the 11th century, served as a political and civil prison for 4 centuries, until 1862. Most new tower- round, it was added in the 15th century. Since 1840, the castle has been classified as a historical monument.

9. Chateau de Tarascon

Situated on the banks of the Rhone River, it has been preserved in surprisingly good condition. This is one of the best medieval castles in France and Europe. It was built in the 15th century by the Dukes of Anjou and is a very architecturally compact building, surrounded on all sides by the river.

The magnificent Chateau de Vincennes is a massive castle that belonged to the French kings, built in the 14th century and rebuilt in the 17th century, located in the town of Vincennes, east of Paris (now a suburb of the French capital). Like many famous castles, it began as a hunting lodge built for Louis VII in 1150 in the Bois de Vincennes. Its surprisingly spacious building consists of a fortress with four corner towers, surrounded by a thick perimeter wall.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most impressive architectural ensembles in Europe. Built in the 8th century, the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is located on a rocky island on the northern coast of France, in. The uniqueness of this place is that this island is located just 600 m from the continent, you can easily reach it at low tide, as many pilgrims did. At the same time this is perfect place for defense: at high tide, potential attackers would have to drown.

Mont Saint-Michel (the abbey and the surrounding town) is one of the most recognizable landmarks in France, included in

This beautiful castle, Chateau d'Usse, is located on the edge of the Chinon forest overlooking the Indre valley. The castle was first fortified in the 11th century by a Norman lord of Ussé named Gueldin de Saumur, who surrounded the fortress with a palisade. Because of its fabulous appearance in the Flaming Gothic and Renaissance style, Chateau d’Usse is often called the Sleeping Beauty Castle.

5. Chateau d'Amboise

This famous castle is located in the center, in the town. The castle was built at the end of the 9th century on a spur above the Loire River. During the reigns of Kings Charles VIII and Francis I (late 15th century), this medieval one was replaced by a new royal residence. The chateau began to decline from the second half of the 16th century, most of The interior was destroyed, but still something was preserved, the halls were restored, as well as the fortress wall with its towers and walls surrounding the castle.

Historical castle Chateau de Chantilly- one of the most significant aristocratic residences in France during the Ancien Regime era. It is located in the town of Chantilly, in Picardy, north of Paris. This beautiful chateau consists of two adjoining buildings: the Petit Château, built around 1560 for Anne de Montmorency, and the Grand Château, which was destroyed during the French Revolution and rebuilt in the 1870s. They are surrounded by a magnificent park, which was laid out by the great Le Nôtre.

The castle was originally built in 1528–1531 for constable Anne de Montmorency, designed by the architect Jean Bulland. In 1632, for assisting the rebellious Duke Gaston of Orleans, the constable's grandson, Henry II de Montmorency, was put to death. The confiscated estate passed to his sister Charlotte and her husband, Prince de Condé. Their descendants continued to bear the title of Duke of Montmorency and live in Chantilly until the end of the family in 1804.

Inside the Chantilly castle, the Condé Museum is now organized, in the collection of which, in addition to the personal belongings of the princes of Condé, their artistic treasures are exhibited - hundreds of handwritten and first-printed books (including the unique codex of music "Ars subtilior" and the Gutenberg Bible), a rare collection of porcelain and the "Magnificent Book of Hours of the Duke Berry" is a famous illustrated manuscript of the 15th century. Together with numerous engravings and paintings by Botticelli, Clouet, Poussin and other old masters. Every two years, the castle park hosts a fireworks competition - Nuits de Feu, which is attended by people from all over the world.

is one of the most famous and impressive castles in the Loire Valley. The castle is a testament to the Age of Enlightenment, with its original design, furniture and decoration, as well as the history of the castle, which was chosen as the residence of a prominent woman, Diane de Poitiers.

It was built in the 11th century on the Cher River. It passed from hand to hand until it was given to Diana de Poitiers, mistress of King Henry II). She saved the castle from destruction during the French Revolution at the hands of the Revolutionary Guards, convincing of its importance for travel and trade, since it was the only bridge over the river for many kilometers.

2. Chateau de Chambord

- one of the most magnificent and largest castle in. Situated in Europe's largest enclosed wooded park, Chateau de Chambord is a jewel of Renaissance architecture. It was built for King Francis I as a hunting estate and also so he could be closer to his mistress. It is one of the most recognizable castles in the world due to its distinct French Renaissance style, which is a mixture of traditional French medieval elements with a pure Renaissance structure.

1. Versailles

Located approximately 20 km southwest of Paris. When the castle was built in 1624, Versailles was still a small village. Now this area has become a wealthy suburb of Paris.

Versailles was built as a small hunting estate for King Louis XIII in 1624. 8 years later the castle was expanded and became the heart of the new palace. Later, the Sun King Louis XIV turned Versailles into best palace in the world, moving the royal court here. As a result, Versailles is known not only as a beautiful building, but has become a symbol of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Regime. Versailles was ahead of its time - it was used as a model for the construction of many other palaces in Europe.