Stunning Châteaux You Will Want to Visit in France

Last updated on November 21st, 2022 at 02:55 pm

There are over 40,000 châteaux throughout the country of France. Each one is completely unique with a fascinating history to uncover. But, with so many to choose from, it can be hard to decide which ones will be worth adding to an itinerary. In this post, I will cover some of my favorite Châteaux that you will want to consider when planning your own visit to France.

***Disclaimer: Be sure to check the restrictions and regulations for entry into France as well as any activity you wish to participate in before booking any part of your journey.

1. Château de Chenonceau

To date, this has been by far my favorite of all the châteaux I have visited in France. As you can see from the photos, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is well maintained and beautifully decorated. The gardens were immaculately kept, the rooms were beautifully decorated, and I especially loved how they had put fresh flowers in many of the rooms. The lovely, bright scents really made a place that could have seemed cold a dreary, feel extra warm and inviting.

On the château’s premises, there is much to explore. You can visit the display of carriages in the barn, museum of pharmacy, and the garden areas. The most interesting part of this was the little museum in the “Gallery of Domes” which commemorates the efforts of the Menier family during WWI. During this time the Menier family allowed their home to be converted into a military hospital.

5 Interesting Facts About Château de Chenonceau

• This was the site of the first ever fireworks show in France in 1560. The event commemorated the ascension of Francis II to France’s throne.

• Château de Chenonceau became the star of a soap opera worthy drama when King Henry II decided to offer it to his favorite mistress, Diane de Poitiers, instead of the queen. As soon as the king died 24 years later, Queen Catherine de’ Medici chased Diane de Poitiers out of Chenonceau and made it her preferred residence.

• From the Green Study, Catherine de’ Medici ruled France as regent for her son, Charles IX, from the time he was 10 years old until he was old enough to be crowned king.

• Over 2,250 people were treated at Château de Chenonceau between the years of 1914-1918, when it was converted into a military hospital.

• During WWII it was used as an escape route for people fleeing Nazi occupied areas. The Menier family was still living the in castle at the time. The Grand Gallery, which extends across the River Cher, became the only escape route for people trying to get to the free zone.

Planning Your Visit to Château de Chenonceau

Parking

This is the closest parking lot to the chateau. Please note that you will have to pay to park here. The ticket office and entrance are located right next to the parking lot.

Things to Note for Your Visit

I would highly recommend getting here as early in the morning as possible in order to get a good parking spot and avoid the crowds. I would as advise you to plan for about 2-3 hours for your visit.

For more information on ticket prices, opening hours, parking, and more, please visit Chateau Chenonceau’s official website.

2. Château de Versailles

No list of châteaux in France would be complete without the stunning palace at Versailles. I’ve been to the Palace of Versailles twice now and given the chance, I would keep going back again and again. It’s just so beautiful.

The first time I visited was with my husband in winter. The advantage of this was that it was a bit less crowded when we did our tour of the palace interior. However, it was really quite cold, dreary, and rainy outside, so visiting the gardens was not as enjoyable. The fountains were turned off, the statues were covered for winter, and the plant-life was lacking signs of life.

The second time I visited was in April. This was probably my preferred time of year to visit because it was warmer and the gardens didn’t look so dead. Also, I booked a biking tour, which I absolutely adored! Having the bikes meant that we were able to cover a lot more ground in a much shorter period of time. And, who doesn’t want to have a picnic along the gardens canal on a bright and sunny day?!

5 Interesting Facts About Château de Versailles

• In 1979, only three years after the beginning of UNESCO, the Château de Versailles became a World Heritage Site.

• Like many châteaux in France, Versailles was originally built to serve as a hunting lodge. But, over time, it was expanded and elaborately decorated.

• One of the main highlights is the Hall of Mirrors which includes 357 mirrors. They cover the 17 arches opposite from the windows which look out on the expansive gardens.

• While the glass mirrors are beautiful, the story of their creation is rather ugly. The French wanted the mirrors to be French-made, even though the Venetians had a monopoly on the market. So, Venetian mirror-makers were smuggled to France so the French could learn the well-kept secrets of mirror-making. In response, the Venetian rulers ordered the assassination of the artisans.

• The fountains at Versailles represent one of the many wondrous accomplishments of mankind. At the time, knowledge of hydraulics was rather limited. In order to achieve King Louis XIV’s vision, technicians and water engineers invented the Marly Machine which pumped water from the Seine to Versailles.

Planning Your Visit to the Château de Versailles

Things to Note for Your Visit

You will have to buy your tickets to see the palace and the gardens separately (unless it is the winter/off-season).

For more information on ticket prices, opening hours, parking, and more, please visit the Palace of Versailles’ official website.

Getting to Versailles by Train From Paris

A visit to Versailles is a very popular day trip from Paris. My strong recommendation to you is to plan to take the train from Montparnasse Train Station. From this train station there are options to arrive at Versailles Chantiers in 15 minutes or less.

From the Versailles Chantiers train station, you will have about a 20 minute walk to reach the Palace at Versailles. Alternatively, you could take the bus part of the way, but you will still have to walk part of the way as well.

Parking

If you do have a car and decide to drive to Versailles, I recommend looking at the list on the official Palace at Versailles’ website. They have a great list of parking lots as well as a map.

Small Group Tour

If you want to make your visit to Versailles extra special, you can join a group tour. I personally did a biking tour that included bikes, entry into the castle/gardens, a visit to the Versailles Market where we bought food for a picnic, and more. I absolutely LOVED it!

If you are interested in booking the same tour, you can do so on the AirBnb Experiences website. Just be sure to bring plenty of water, wear appropriate clothing/shoes, and come prepared to have a fantastic time!
***PLEASE NOTE that the train tickets from Paris are included in the small group tour price!!

3. Château de Pierrefonds

The Château de Pierrefonds was built at the end of the 14th century by Duke Louis of Orleans. In 1617, the castle was besieged and partially dismantled in order to prevent others from using it as a stronghold. Sadly, like many chateaux in France, this magnificent mansion was left in a state of disrepair for centuries before being restored.

Napoleon Bonaparte bought the castle for less than 3,000 francs in 1810. He desired to have it restored to its original glory. The architect, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, was commissioned for the job. Viollet-le-Duc is particularly famous for restoring many buildings across France including Notre-Dame de Paris, Sainte-Chapelle, Mont Saint-Michel, and the medieval walls of Carcassonne. He was also heavily involved in the process of creating and designing the statue of liberty.

While Château de Pierrefonds stands beautifully restored, historical accuracies were not heavily regarded. Therefore, instead of being a recreation of the original structure, the building reflects the architect’s interpretation of what the castle could have looked like.

Planning Your Visit to Château de Pierrefonds

Getting to Pierrefonds by Public Transportation From Paris

Like Versailles, Pierrefonds is another chateau that can potentially be a day trip from Paris. There are a couple of public transport options. But, the fastest option is to take the train from Paris Nord to Crépy-en-Valois, then take the bus to Pierrefonds – Mairie.

Parking

The best parking for your castle visit is in this parking lot because it is free! From here, it’s only about a 5-10 minute walk up to the castle.

Things to Note for Your Visit

Overall, I would recommend about 1-2 hours to see the château and the grounds around it. If you have additional time, I suggest walking around the village of Pierrefonds because it is quite adorable!

For more information about tickets, opening hours, and more, please visit the official Château de Pierrefonds website.

4. Château de Chambord

Château de Chambord is a monstrous mansion in the famous Loire Valley. While architectural elements resemble castle-like elements, Chambord was never intended to serve a military function. In fact, it was originally intended to serve as a hunting lodge for Francis I. That said, like many châteaux in France, its look and purpose was altered significantly. Over the course of the next 245 years, it was continuously modified to suit the ever changing trends of French royalty. Even now, it feels quite maze-like to wander through the never-ending series of rooms.

It is an impressive structure, both inside and out. The roof’s large collection of towers, chimneys, and spires resemble a town’s skyline as they pierce upwards towards the sky. An incomplete, yet decorative moat serves as a mirror, reflecting the castle’s beauty. Inside, Chambord’s vast beauty revolves around its famous double helix staircase which was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci.

4 Interesting Facts About Château de Chambord

• There are approximately 300 châteaux located in France’s Loire Valley and the Château de Chambord is the largest of them all.

• In 1981, the Château de Chambord was the first in the Loire Valley to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rest of the Loire Valley was added in 2000.

• Like many châteaux in France, Chambord was never intended to serve as a full-time residence. Therefore, very little in the way of furnishings were left in the home full-time. Instead, they had to be transported to the home and back for each individual trip.

• During the Second World War, Château de Chambord became a secret, safe place for storing valuables. Of particular note, collections from the Château de Compiègne and the Louvre (including the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo) were housed here.

• Unfortunately, after the French Revolution, the furnishings, wall decor, and even the floorboards that remained in the house were sold at auction.

Planning Your Visit to Château de Chambord

Parking

This is the closest parking lot to the château. It cost us 6 euros to park here for the day (please note that the price may change at any time). If it is full, there are other parking lots to choose from as well here and here.

Things to Note for Your Visit

Honestly, I think you could spend an entire day there. For the record, we spent a solid 2 hours here and we were pretty much moving the entire time. But, even still, I feel like we barely skimmed the surface of everything there is to see and do here.

There is an option to pay extra for a HistoPad and I highly recommend doin this. The added commentary as well as the visuals of how the rooms used to look at different time periods really brought the building to life. There is also a map that tracks where you have been and rooms you haven’t visited yet. I found this especially helpful because it’s such a huge space to explore.

For more information on ticket prices, opening hours, and more, please visit the official Château de Chambord website.

5. Château Comtal de Carcassonne

One could say that this is exactly the kind of castle the other châteaux in France were deriving their inspirations from. However, this encircled château and city were purposefully designed for war. Many battles and sieges happened here over the course of hundreds of years.

When the French boarder was moved, after the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees, the area’s importance decreased significantly. Eventually, the area fell into ruins and the French government nearly had it demolished. But, the local people were quick to defend the city’s importance. Now, the beautifully restored walls, ramparts, and the castle itself remain perched atop their hill along the River Aude.

4 Interesting Facts About Carcassonne

• The Cité de Carcassonne was added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

• During the 11th through the 13th centuries, Carcassonne became a center of the Cathars. This was a heretical group of Christians who were heavily persecuted by the Catholic Church. 

• Carcassonne was the first fortress to use hoardings in times of siege. These wooden constructions were built onto a castle’s exterior to improve the defense of the castle.

• The castle and walled city of Carcassonne stood unconquered during the Hundred Years War.

The Legend of Lady Carcas

The legend of Lady Carcas tells an (unlikely story) of how the city got its name. The city had been besieged by Charlemagne’s soldiers for five years. During this time, the princess, Lady Carcas, had attempted to fool the attackers by making fake soldiers and placing them around the city. But, the siege continued and by the sixth year, the city’s reserves were running low.

In a desperate attempt to save Carcassonne, Lady Carcas fed a sack of wheat to a pig and and had it thrown from a high tower. When the opposing army saw this, they were amazed that the townspeople were willing to waste food in this way. Therefore, they came to the conclusion that the city had a vast reserve supply, so they ended the siege. In celebration, the town rang all of the bells. When the attackers heard it, they cried out in French “Carcas sonne!” (which means “Carcas is ringing!”).

Planning Your Visit to Château Comtal

Parking

It is not possible to drive cars into the medieval Cité de Carcassonne, so you will have to park outside of the fortress walls. Here is an example of a convenient parking lot, but there are many others if it is full.

Things to Note for Your Visit

It would be very easy to spend and entire day, if not a couple of days in Carcassonne. There are so many things to explore and discover here. You can try a traditional dish called cassoulet, visit the inquisition museum, visit the torture museum, walk along the ramparts, visit the castle, and go on a tour of the town with a knight.

I have included many more details and information about things to do in my post: 6 Places to Visit in the Southern French Countryside

In Conclusion

I hope that this post has inspired you to visit some of the beautiful Châteaux in France. I’d love to know if this post was helpful to you, so leave me a comment down below. 🙂

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine

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