Last Updated on 23 April, 2026
When I visited France for the first time, I decided to skip Paris and explore the country’s smaller cities and towns. This allowed me to experience the authentic charm of France without the hustle and bustle of tourists. During my trip, I visited some of the most beautiful castles in France (château in French). In fact, I was lucky enough to stay in two of them, which made my trip even more memorable.
There are over 40,000 castles in France thanks to its long and rich history, ample resources, and political stability during the medieval period. These castles served as residences, fortifications, and centres of administration and justice for the French monarchy and aristocracy.
With so many castles in France to choose from, you might be wondering how to determine which to visit and which to stay at (and I highly recommend that you do if you have a chance). Keep on reading to discover the seven most breathtaking castles in France!
1. Château de Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is situated on the outskirts of Paris. It is considered one of the most famous castles in France and a recognisable symbol of French royalty and luxury. Built during the 17th century under the reign of King Louis XIV, it was used as the royal residence until the French Revolution in 1789.
The palace is famous for its lavish architecture, stunning gardens, and opulent interior design, which showcase the epitome of the French Baroque style. You can discover the elaborate State Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors containing 357 mirrors, and the expansive Palace Gardens created by André Le Nôtre. Today, the Palace of Versailles is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It draws millions of visitors every year, providing a glimpse into the grandeur of France’s royal history.
How to Get There
By train
There are three train stations in Versailles: Versailles Château Rive Gauche station, Versailles Rive Droite station, and the Chantiers station. The palace is a 10-minute walk from the Versailles Château Rive Gauche train station.
By car
The Palace of Versailles is about a 30-45min drive from Paris. The main entrance to the Palace of Versailles is through the Cour d’Honneur. Access to the park is through the Queen’s Gate, and the entrance fee is 12 euros per vehicle.
2. Château de Chenonceau
This majestic castle was the first one I visited, and for good reason. It is the second most visited castle in France. Situated near the small village of Chenonceaux in the Indre-et-Loire département of the Loire Valley, it was constructed between 1514 and 1522 on the remains of an old mill and was later expanded to cross the river Cher. A blend of late Gothic and early Renaissance architecture, Château de Chenonceau and its gardens are open to the public.
After having your ticket checked and a short walk through the lush avenue, you will arrive at the view of the magnificent beauty. The area is breathtaking, with three fragrant gardens and a maze. The interior is just as beautiful – filled with the most fragrant flowers, it features an extraordinary collection of furniture, tapestries, and paintings. Once you’re done exploring the castle rooms, you can rent a rowing boat and admire the Château de Chenonceau from the water.
How to Get There
The Château de Chenonceau is located in Touraine, on the Cher River, 214 km from Paris and 34 km from Tours.
- 2 hours by car via the autoroute A10 “Aquitaine” (Blois or Amboise exits)
- 1 hour by T.G.V. Paris-Montparnasse / Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (Tours)
- 1 hour by T.G.V. Paris-Aéroport Roissy-CDG / Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (Tours)
- 25 minutes by TER Tours-Chenonceaux
- The SNCF station is located near the ticket office (400m)
3. Château d’Ussé
Château d’Ussé is a castle located in the Indre-et-Loire département on the edge of the Chinon forest, overlooking the Indre Valley. It is one of the most magical castles in France due to its Romantic architectural features, which inspired the French author Charles Perrault to write the famous fairytale Sleeping Beauty.
Initially built as a stronghold in the Middle Ages, the castle developed over time to become a jewel of Renaissance architecture. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it became a splendid residential home and has been lived in by the same family for over two centuries.
How to Get There
By car
- 15 km from Azay le Rideau, Langeais, Chinon
- 40 mins from Saumur
- 45 mins west of Tours
- 2 h 30 from Paris by the A10 motorway
- 1 h 45 from Orléans by the A10 motorway
- 1 h from Angers by the A85 motorway (exit Bourgueil)
By train
- 1 hour from Paris, arrival at Tours station
4. Château de Villandry
Château de Villandry is a medieval castle from the 16th century located in the department of Indre-et-Loire. It was built during the Renaissance and is famous for its beautiful gardens. To get a better view of the gardens, go inside to the second floor.
How to Get There
By the A85, Villandry is just half an hour from Château de Chenonceau!
From Paris
- By car (150 miles): A10, exit 24 (Joué-lès-Tours), then A85 towards Saumur, exit 8 (Villandry)
- By rail: from Paris Montparnasse (55min), then by taxi from Tours or Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station (20min)
From Nantes
- By car: A11 then A85, exit 8 (Villandry).
- By rail: 90min, then by taxi from Tours or Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station (20min).
- By minibus: more information here.
- By Shuttle PARIS/VILLANDRY: PARISCityVISION runs a regular shuttle service departing from Paris. For more information, click here.
From Tours
- By public transport: Fil Bleu shuttle bus service daily throughout July and August.
- Or by bike! Follow the Loire à Vélo (Loire by Bike) route (9 miles). The Loire à Vélo cycle routes can be downloaded here.
5. Château du Clos Lucé
The Château du Clos Lucé is located in Amboise, in the Indre-et-Loire department. It is famous for being the official residence of Leonardo da Vinci between 1516 and 1519 when he died. Today, it’s a Leonardo da Vinci museum. The museum reflects the prestigious history of the region and has forty models of the various machines designed by Leonardo. It also includes a copy of the Mona Lisa, painted in 1654 by Ambroise Dubois.
“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”
Leonardo Da Vinci
How to Get There
One hour from Paris by the TGV fast train or two hours by car, the Château du Clos Lucé is in the middle of Amboise.
By car
A10, Paris-Tours-Bordeaux, exit No 18
A85, Nantes-Tours-Vierzon, exit No 11.
Both exits are located 20 minutes from Le Château du Clos Lucé.
By train
Paris Montparnasse: St Pierre des Corps in 55 minutes by TGV fast train (the station is 20km from Amboise, connection possible by local train or by road)
Paris Austerlitz: Amboise direct in 2 hours (Amboise TER – Loire Valley station is 2 km from Le Clos Lucé)
A bus service connects the station and Amboise town centre all year. The Château du Clos Lucé is located 300m on foot from the town centre.
6. Château de Picomtal
Château de Picomtal is one of the castles in France which is also a hotel. It’s a 14th-16th century castle that an American and French couple transformed into a beautiful château. It has nine charming and very spacious guest rooms decorated with antique furnishings. When you arrive, you are greeted by the owners themselves, which is pretty special.
The medieval castle is located next to the town of Embrun in the Southern French Alps. It has views of Lake Serre-Ponçon, which has the deepest and richest blue I have ever seen in a lake.
Château de Picomtal is surrounded by fields, forests, the lake and the mountains, making it a heaven for lovers of horse riding, water sports, mountain sports, paragliding and many other activities.
How to Get There
Accessible by Highway A51 and less than 2.5 hours drive from the Marseilles-Provence Airport and the TGV train station of Aix-en-Provence, the Château de Picomtal is in the village of Crots, 5km from the town of Embrun.
Nearest airports
Marseilles-Provence
Turin (Italy)
By car
From Grenoble, the RN 85 (Napolean Road) to Gap, then the N 94 to Crots in the direction of Embrun/Briançon.
From Marseilles/Aix-en-Provence, highway A51 to the last exit, La Saulce/Gap, then the D942 through Tallard to the N94 to Crots in the direction of Embrun/Briançon.
From Turin via Montgenevre and Briançon, then the N94 in the direction of Embrun/Gap to Crots.
By train
Direct trains from Paris, Marseille, Aix en Provence, Grenoble, Lyon, and Valence to the Embrun SNCF Train Station.
7. Château de la Pioline
Château de la Pioline is a 16th century pronvençal style hotel located just a few kilometres from Aix-en-Provence city centre. It was one of the first castles in France that I stayed at. Château de la Pioline is very charming, with a French-style tranquil garden and an outdoor pool where the buffet breakfast (fresh croissants, local jams, fruit, and orange juice) is served. It has a Michelin-star restaurant for dinner where you can indulge in the best French cuisine.
It has a French-style tranquil garden. And an outdoor pool during the summer season. The buffet breakfast (think fresh croissants, local jams and fruit, orange juice…) is also served by the pool. It’s worth mentioning that the hotel has a Michelin-starred restaurant, so if you want to treat yourself, Le Chef Pierre Reboul has you covered (except for Sunday evenings and all day on Mondays when the restaurant is closed).
How to Get There
By car
5 km from Aix-en-Provence city centre, in the Bouches-du-Rhône, 30 km to the north of Marseille.
By train
The Aix-en-Provence TGV railway station is 10 km away.
Which of these castles in France are you most excited to visit?
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