Often, I hear travelers talking about German castles and history of Germany. Don’t get me wrong, Germany has beautiful castles and plenty of history. However, France has also beautiful castles located all over the country that most people don’t know about.
The castles I recommend to visit:
- MONT SAINT-MICHEL: It is a fortress off the coast of Normandy. The town became the site of an abbey in the 9th century and a destination for Christian pilgrims. The site now attracts more than three million tourists a year. The view from the top is breathtaking as you can see the sand when it is low tide. Mont Saint-Michel is accessible by car; therefore, if you are in Paris, rent an automatic car at Gare De Lyon on the outskirts of Paris (so you don’t have to drive inside Paris too much). The drive is about 4 hours from Paris. You can also take the train.
- PALACE OF VERSAILLES: When you visit Paris, take a half-day to visit Versailles. Trust me, you will not regret the detour. The Palace of Versailles has been listed a World Heritage Site for 30 years and is one of the greatest achievements in French 17th century art. It was first a hunting lodge to become the seat of power for the French monarchy during the reign of Louis XIV. The Hall of Mirrors located at the heart of the palace became the sites where the Franco-Prussian War and WWI were formally concluded. To access the palace, you can rent a car or take one of the organized half-day tour.
- CHÂTEAU D’AMBOISE: Located on the Loire Valley not too far from Tours. The castle was built on the foundations of an old fortress. It became a luxurious palace in the late fifteenth century. You can explore the castle at your own place with the help of a booklet in English, Spanish, Italian, etc.
- CHÂTEAU DE CASTELNAUD-LA-CHAPELLE: This castle is one of the most visited castles in South of France because it was a medieval fortress on the Dordogne River, and it has a museum of Medieval Warfare inside the castle. The castle is also very popular because it has a magnificent views across the surrounding countryside as well as the view of another castle, Château de Beynac.
- CHÂTEAU DE CHAMBORD: The castle is located in the Loire Valley near Orleans, and was built to serve as a hunting lodge for Francis I. The fun part of this castle is that a 4 stars hotel called Hotel Relais de Chambord opened in March 2018 and is 150 feet from the castle.
- CHÂTEAU D’USSÉ: The castle was originally built as a stronghold in the Middle Ages, but overtime, it became a splendid residential home. Because of its many turrets, towers, sloping roof, chimneys, it inspired Charles Perrault when he sought a setting for his Sleeping Beauty fairy-tale. Since then, many refer this castle as the Sleeping Beauty castle. There is now a permanent exhibition of wax figures located in Tour de la Belle au Bois Dormant relating the story of Sleeping Beauty.
There are plenty of other castles worth visiting; therefore, don’t hesitate to contact me, and I’ll be happy to point you to the right direction.