France Castles - French Chateaux - Chateaux & Wine Cruises
What is a Chateau?    Loire Valley Chateaux Day Tours    Chateaux & Wine River Cruises

Chateaux descriptions vary considerably as does the spelling in search requests: Chateaux in France, French Chateaux Chateaux [plural], Chateaux France Hotel, Chateaux [the plural form] and Chateau [singular form], this Châteaux [with circonflexe - the accent mark over the â] French castles, France Castles, Châteaux de la Loire, Loire Valley Chateaux, and French Medieval Castles, medieval chateaux France, Luxury chateaux to rent in France, Charming chateaux to rent France, Castles of France, France golf chateaux, prestigious castle rentals France, the list goes on and on.  Now you can . . . . .

                              DISCOVER THE ROYAL & OTHER NOTED CHATEAUX AROUND FRANCE.

Find additional castle information, such as the parts of a castle and what they're called, and pictures of castles from various castle websites and castles from the middle ages.  Enjoy our 'Chateaux' pages, and these truly beautiful and magnificent Royal and Private Castles of France! .

• The Loire Valley traverses two French regions. Centre [Region 6] and Pays de la Loire [Region 18].
• The Loire Valley  is also known as Chateaux de la Loire.
• Catherine de Medici and her Chateaux de la Loire
• What is a Chateau?  Wherever the Romans established themselves they fortified their cities by building a wall around them for protection from their enemies.

Amboise

• Chateau Amboise and Photos of the Château
• The history of the château
• The official site of The Royal Château Amboise,. And,  what you see is just a small portion of what the Château was at one time.  Le Clos Luce a residence where Leonardo da Vinci stayed until he died. This photo is not the residence, but rather the chapel. This is Leonardo's Clos Luce and information site
• Chateau du Close Luce - Leonardo Divinci
• The town of Amboise Val de Loire
• Discover the Renaissance Spectacle
• The history of the Château and the town
• Chateau Amboise from Wikipedia

Angers

• Chateau Angers and Photos of the chateau.
• The history of the château
• Official Chateau D'Angers National Monument
• Château Angers Gardens
• The town of Angers and it's history and it's Tourisme Office
• A panoramic view of the chateau and surrounding community of Angers.
• Angers is a very impressive architecturally, as well as aesthetically, the governments site on Monuments and 'Le Chateau d'Angers'.
• From Wikipedia - Chateau Angers, a good information site!

Azay-le-Rideau

• Chateau Azay-le-Rideau and Photos of the chateau.
• Azay le Rideau Western Loire
• Official Azay le Rideau National Monument
• The history of the château of azay le rideau
• The official website for Azay-le-Rideau.  This chateau is one of the more favorite and beautiful ones, with some great photos.
• Wikipedia's information on the beautiful Azay-le-Rideau on the Indre River.

Blois

• Chateau Blois and Photos of the Chateau de Blois
• Official Chateau Royal de Blois in French and in English
• The History of the Chateau de Blois
• The Chateaux de Blois Museum, spectacular photos of château, and the village of Blois where you can walk the streets for pedestrians only
• Chateau Blois boasts classic renaissance architecture and . . . architecture of Chateau Blois and additions.
• Wikipedia on The Chateau de Blois with some architectural and historical information.
•  
• This photo of the spiral staircase shows the truly amazing & elaborate renaissance designs that this chateau is known for. There are many different architectural styles as they added on to the chateau. Catherine de Medici occupied Blois at the end of the 16th century.
• Chateau Blois Garden Visit with some great photos. Again, the architecture and the gardens of Blois is truly magnificent!

Chambord

• Chateau Chambord and Photos and of Chateau Chambord
• More information on Chateaux Chambord
• Chambord the Royal Hunting Lodge
• The history of the château
• This is one of the most visited & beautiful Château in France, it is truly amazing and not to be missed in touring the Loire Valley. With it's double staircase inside the castle where men could ride the horses up and down the two stairs without seeing each other! With just a mere 440 rooms, and 365 chimneys this is where the Royalty spent a few weekends a year to hunt!
• A virtual visit of Chambord
• Discovering Chambord
• The National Nature Preserve on the estate of Chambord
• The Royal Chateau Chambord from Wikipedia
• Another Chambord site with lots of photos.

Chantilly [Institute de France] and Museum

• Chateau de Chantilly and photos of Chantilly
• Chateau de Chantilly [Musee Conde] with complete visitors information, and in English
• Les Clouet of the Queen Catherine of Médicis
• Virtual visit of the museum
• Chateau de Chantilly and some history
• Chantilly Lace made famous by Elvis's song, is the silk lace dating from the 18th century.
• Photos of Chantilly
• More Photos of Chantilly
• Chateau Chantilly Le Nôtre

Chaumont [also known as Chaumont-Amboise]

• The Château de Chaumont in 1560 became the property of Catherine de Medici [another chateau for Catherine] who in turn forced Diane de Portiers to exchange Chaumont for Chenonceaux.after King Henri II's death.
• The village of Chaumont
• Wikipedia's information on Chaumont, a beautiful fairytale castle.
• Château de Chaumont in Photos WikiMedia
• The Festival International des Jardins de Chaumont-sur-Loire for 2009

Chenonceau, le Chateau des Dames

• The history of the château and Photos of the château
• I believe it's unanimous, this is the most beautiful of the Loire Valley Châteaux, Château de Chenonceaux. The chateau was used during WW I as a hospital, it's owner at the time was Mr. Gaston Menier who did this at his own expense. This château was given to Diane de Poitiers by by King Henri II [she was his lady on the side] and then Catherine de Médici took it over.  Her influence on the Château, as well as several of the other chateaux of royalty, was truly spectacular. This is one you do not want to miss on your tour through the Loire Valley. Chenonceaux is privately owned, and truly wonderful to visit. The stories of the goings on of the Royalty were truly 'Royal' soap-operas.
• The gardens of Chenonceaux [Diane de Poitier's influence] and the wines from the estate and is a France most beautiful garden as well as a charming hotel/restaurant
• The tourist offfice of Chenonceaux
• Another good information site on Chenonceaux
• Some architectural information
• The Loire Valley online with more photos and information

Cheverny

• Chateau Cheverny and Photos
• The history of the château and Photos of the château
• Château-Cheverny, this is a privately owned chateau, and has been lived in by the descendants of the Hurault family [marquis de Vibraye] for over 6 centuries.
• The park of Cheverny
• Chateau de Cheverny on Wilipedia
• A good information site on Cheverny as well as lots of photos
• The annual marathon [ASJ Athletisme] at Cheverny.

Fontainebleau

• The history of the Château Fontainebleau
• Palace of Fontainebleau and Photos of the château
• The National Museum and Château of Fontainebleau
• Le Chateau de Fontainebleau This is a non-official Fontainebleau site, but has a great deal of  information on the history and all facets of Fontainebleau.
• The click on virtual panoramic visit to the chateau and gardens, c'est magnifique!
• A great historical information site
• Fontainebleau, Forêt d'émotions
• Garden information
• Fontainebleau Tourism Office, and local events & activities
• Concerts and festivals at Fontainebleau
• Architectural information on Fontainebleau
• More photos for you to enlarge
• Fontainebleau and Le Nôtre

Mont St. Michel

• The history of the Abbaye Mont Saint Michel and Photos of the Abbaye

Usse

• The History of Chateau d'Usse and Photos
• Château d'Usse, in the Indre Valley, was originally a fortress from the 11th century.  After the main part of the building was destroyed, the château was rebuilt during the late 15th into the 16th century.  The château was added onto through the centuries, turning it into the fairytale castle of today.  Charles Perrault bought Usse [the chateau of dreams] in the 17th century, and supposedly was inspired to write the classic 'Sleeping Beauty' [and all of his other fairy tales].  This is 'The Castle of Sleeping Beauty' fame, and some of the decor inside reflects the fable.
• Chateau d'Usse on Wikipedia
• Chateau d'Usse and her Chateau d'Usse History
• Chateau's Gardens and Visitors Information and Chateau's Chapelle
• A nice information site on Usse, however rumor has it that Disney used Mad Ludwig's favorite castle Neuschwanstein [photo] that sits on top of a mountain over looking a lake as inspiration for Cinderella's Castle.
• A biography of Charles Perrault, Charles Perrault's Mother Goose Tales

Vaux-le-Vicomte

• Chateau Vaux le Vicomte in French and in English
• The Château Vaux-le-Vicomte's Introduction
• Chateau Vaux le Vicomte History
• Vaux-le-Vicomte,the first French Gardens
• Nicholas Fouquet
• Photos of the Château take by YOU!
• Interactive Map of the Estate and Grounds
• Practical Information
• Andre le Notre [André le Nôtre], designed the gardens of Vaux-le-Vicomte, then on the Versailles and the list goes on....Andre Le Norte was the supreme landscape architect [before the the term landscape architect was conceived in 1828] of châteaux gardens.
• Le Notre Thematic Network Project

Versailles Palace

• The history of the château
• Pictures of Palace Of Versaille
• Official site for the Palace of Versailles
• The town of Versaille
• The official tourism site for Versaille
• Photos of Versaille from George d'Alba
• What's happening in Versaille
• Tourist office for Versaille
• The park and gardens of Versaille just beautiful, a great site!
• Le Nôtre

Villandry

• Chateau Villandry and Photos
• The history of Chateau Villandry
• The Chateau Villandry Gardens
• The Château de Villandry is known for it's magnificent gardens.  The Chateau underwent major reconstruction, and is more magnificent then before, and the gardens are some of the most noted in France and the world.
• The village of Villandry and it's tourism information with events and happenings.

Chateaux Links to Visit include Medieval and Architectural Information

Chateaux Architectural and Parts Lexique and Coats of Arms
La Passion des Chateaux is dedicated to historical chateaux around France, but primarily focuses on the Puy-de-Dome area of Auvergne.  From the evolution of the chateau, architectural terms for the different parts of a chateau, as well as the Coat of Arms explanations and much more. You can view the chateaux here.

Châteaux Foundations [Fondation du Patrimoine] [for the Protection of Historic Monuments]
For Fondation information, click on this page, et La Protection des Monuments Historiques links click here.  For information regarding Restoration, you find the information here.
La Demeure Historique [DH] Association for Owners of Private Historic Monuments
UEHHA  the Union of European Historic Houses Association in France
VMF Les Vielles Maisons Française

Châteaux Information Sites
An individuals website on castles. These châteaux are not as well known to visitors, and the site is not exclusive to French chateaux, you'll get to view the other countries castles if you like. However, the photos and information is great!
Castleland Regional Map of Medieval Châteaux  and Directory by Department, this is a great site with all the contact information as well as links to many of the châteaux associations.
Castles France Châteaux de la Loire
Castles of the world - [huge portal] contains a large collection of castle related information for France and around the world.
Chateau and gardens, drive through wildlife park, in Thoiry-en-Yveline
Châteaux Celtes et Chimères portail with A to T information on medieval times, history, tales myths, legends significant dates and events
Loire Valley Tours website, the virtual visit. Start at Amboise and click on next monument below each château, it will take you alphabetically through all the major châteaux of the Loire Valley. We've already put some of the chateaux on this page, but take a trip to see the rest.  Really nice!.
Pandora Enchanting Castles [Belgium Chateaux Information]  with information by Province

Medieval Châteaux Pictures
Medieval Castles Pictures

The Great Walled Cities [Fortresses] of France

Avignon Avignon France and the Palais de Papes
The official history information for Avignon
Tourism office of Avignon
Information for Avignon

Carcassonne
The grandest walled city of them all is Carcassonne [ancient medieval city].  A Unesco World Heritage site.
Official Tourisme Office in Carcassonne with happenings & events in the medieval city        https://whc.unesco.org/sites/345.htm
A nice information site on Carcassonne, and very impressive night photo of it.
The Cathars from this time period and some information from a visiting writer
Tourism office of Carcassonne

Chinon
Offiical Tourism site for Chinon - Chinon was included in the French royal estates in 1205, this is a very nice site! Be sure and go through the links.
Château de Chinon, the Medieval Fortress in the Loire Valley, and where Charles VII first met Joan of Arc. With photos and a lot of historical information.

Swiss Chateaux
Chateaux listings in Switzerland link.