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This is a list of châteaux in France, arranged by region. The French word château (French pronunciation:; plural: châteaux) has a wider meaning than the English castle: it includes architectural entities that are properly called palaces, mansions or vineyards in English.
This is a list of castles in France, arranged by region and department. Notes. The French word château has a wider meaning than the English castle: it includes architectural entities that are properly called palaces, mansions or vineyards in English.
Dec 10, 2023 · From the iconic Chateau de Chenonceau, known as “the ladies’ castle,” to the well-preserved Chateau de Cheverny, there is no shortage of stunning castles to discover. So pack your bags, and embark on a journey to explore the rich history and architectural heritage of France.
- When Is A Château A Château?
- A Bit of History
- Where to See French Châteaux
- Our Pick of The Best
- Find Your Own Favourite French Châteaux
châteauhas several meanings in English and can include castles, stately homes and palaces in its definition. For our purposes, we’ve taken it to mean ‘stately home’ or a fine residence rather than a castle or palace – so the Cité de Carcassonne and Versailles are not included here.
Châteaux originally served a purpose as a fortification in those parts of France in battle. Many in the Languedoc region, for example, were built by the Cathars to defend their beliefs against the Papal crusade. The same is true for those in the Loire Valley, set up as fortified islands against the English during the Hundred Years War. It was, howe...
Most corners of France boast a château (or several in many cases) and you’re never far from at least one example of a fine French stately home. But some regions offer château viewing opportunities at almost every turn. And some luxury hotel barge cruises incorporate a private château tour in their itineraries.
Choosing the finest French châteaux was never going to be an easy task, but we’ve narrowed our choice down to eight gems:
One of the best ways to see French châteaux at their best is from the water. A trip down any French river offers unique vistas of the grand stately homes lining the banks. You can achieve this grandly on board a luxury hotel barge, from the pilot’s seat of your self-drive hire boat, or courtesy of a Loire river cruise. PIN this post:
Sep 5, 2023 · Châteaux can be found across the country; it is understood that there are around 6,500 manor house châteaux, adding to a reported total of around 43,000 châteaux of varying descriptions in France. Many of these are found towards the west of France in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley.
Each region of France has many castles and chateaux. Loire Valley castles are simply astounding and are very much a part of the tours that run through the valley. Castles such as Carcassonne are also a huge part of tours showing off castles in the south of France.
French castles. Find hotels. Discover many of the best known of the 1000 castles in France, with our guides to their history and visitor information. Alsace. Chateau de Fleckenstein (Bas-Rhin) The Chateau de Fleckenstein is one of the most imposing ruined castles along the Route des Chateaux in Alsace. See Chateau de Fleckenstein guide.
