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Great Castles of France

Chateau Foix in Foix, France (cc)
 

Great Castles of France: The 10 Most Famous Castles in France

France has some of the loveliest castles in Europe, with a diversity in architectural styles and themes that is unparalleled. The French castles, also known as châteaux, are sprinkled throughout the country, but with a concentration in the Centre region, particularly in the Loire Valley, and in the area around Paris. The big question is, which ones should one see? Well, here are the top 10, most famous castles in France.

[ Pages of interest: Great Cathedrals of France and Best Small Towns of France ]


Château de Versailles

Château de Versailles is easily the most famous and most ostentatious of France's palaces. What began as a royal hunting lodge, emerged as a showcase of opulent architecture and the seat of French government for nearly a century, 1682-1789, and ultimately the premier repository of 18th-century classical French art in the guise of the present-day Museum of the History of France. The gardens here are just as impressive as the palace

Location: Versailles, Île-de-France region


Château de Chantilly

Fabulous 16th-century château with formal French gardens, tied to the House of Montmorency. Its main draw, however, is Musée Condé which houses one of finest collections of paintings in France, including Raphael's Three Graces and Piero di Cosimo's Portrait of Simonetta Vespucci. What's more, Château de Chantilly lies in the Paris metropolitan area, easily accessible from the capital city

Location: Chantilly, Picardy region


Châteaux de Carcassonne

Castle-city in the Languedoc in the south of France, with the distinction of being the largest fortified medieval city in all of Europe today.

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Châteaux de Chambord

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Château d'Amboise

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Châteaux de Chenonceau

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Mont St. Michel

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Fougères

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Château de Foix

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Château d'Usse

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© Indian Chief Travel Guides

Last updated November 30, 2013
Posted in   France  |  Great Castles of France
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