Medieval castles in France. Castle hotels in France. Wine regions of France

Castle hotels in France

Castle tours France.
The cost of individual and group excursions with Russian-speaking guides.

In France, you can live in real castles yourself, equipped according to the most modern requirements of hotel art. For example, you can start a tour in Paris (2 nights), then stay for 3 nights in the 18th century palace CHATEAU D "ARTIGNY (4 *). Palace located near the castle-museums of Chenonceau, Blois, Amboise, etc. In the village, not far from the city of Tours, in a chalk cave, there is a restaurant where it is appropriate to taste white wine - Vouvray.It is possible to stay only in Loire castles with car rental and without visiting Paris .

All castle hotels ( short description)

Accommodation in castle hotels in the Loire Valley

36, quai Charles Guinot - 37400 Amboise

The castle is an elegant ensemble of residences of the XVIII century, located 25 km from Tours. The family atmosphere and warmth captivate customers. 28 rooms and 4 suites are fully equipped: TV, telephone, minibar, bathroom, air conditioning. 2 restaurants with panoramic views of the garden and the Loire River, swimming pool, tennis courts, golf course.
( ... )

49350 Saumur-Chenehutte-les-Tuffeaux

Accommodation in a castle hotel in Brittany

Ballyu Castle
(Chateau de la Ballue)
The historical and cultural context of the construction of Ballu Castle in the 17th century is full of confusion and passions of that era. Located on the Golden Arc - an outpost of Brittany, 20 km south of famous mountain Saint Michel, in a picturesque hilly terrain. It is within easy reach of the historic walled cities of Fougères, Combourg, Saint-Malo, Dinan and Dinard. The owners of a harmonious and strict castle will put at your disposal the most prestigious bedrooms. french park, broken around, disposes to unhurried walks.

(The cost of accommodation and online booking of a room in this castle ...)

Kermezen Castle
(Chateau de Kermezen)
A typical Breton castle of the 17th century is lost in a quiet green valley a few kilometers from the town of Paimpol, Brehat Island, Perros-Guirec. The hosts will welcome you in a manor that has been owned by the family for 500 years.

To the southern and northern parts. Each of them has its own climate. This area of ​​unique beauty is famous for its villages of great historical significance, pastoral landscapes, good wine, famous monuments architecture and castles.

There are about 300 estates in the valley. You can see many castles in France on the map below. Among them there are real fortresses with defensive buildings and fortifications. For construction work, the best were hired here. landscape designers and architects of those years.

At the moment, many palaces and castles in France continue to be private property, some are open to the general public, but there are also those that now have hotels.

Plassey Burre Castle

This stunning castle is located in the commune of Ecuier, on the Loire coast, near Angers. Plessis-Bourre is perfectly preserved, so many tourists can see it in the same form in which it was built 500 years ago. The castle is a combination of Renaissance luxury and medieval trends.

When designing it, the task was to build a small, but real fortress with the necessary attributes for it. In addition, Plessy-Bourre had to be comfortable and convenient so that the owner could live there, invite many guests and hold various balls. The architect was able to realize all these requirements. The rectangular castle is located on the territory of 59 by 68 meters. Like other medieval castles in France, towers complete its corners. A moat was dug around the entire building, through which you can only cross over a small drawbridge - a bridge house was built to protect it. At the same time, a space was left between the moat and the wall so that the owner of the castle had a place where one could take a walk.

Chenonceau castle

Amboise castle

Considering the castles in the south of France, it is worth noting this one, which rises above the Loire. It began its history in the eleventh century. Therefore, he experienced many different periods - he was a royal residence and a powerful medieval fortress, a button factory and a prison... This castle was visited by many humanists, philosophers, artists and sculptors from all over Europe. It will be interesting for every tourist to walk along the cavalry towers and royal chambers, get acquainted with a stunning collection of furniture, enjoying the beautiful panoramic garden of the Loire coast.

Chateau d'If

Known to many by the novel by A. Dumas, the castle is located in the south of France. It was built to protect the city from attacks from the sea. It was ordered to be built by Francis I, although the castle was never attacked, due to which it has been able to remain completely intact to this day.

Modern Marseille is rightfully proud of it - this is one of its main attractions. So, there are excursions around the If castle, there is a cozy cafe, and postcards and souvenirs are also sold.

For a long time this castle was used as a prison, as it was the best place for exile - it was almost impossible to escape from there due to strong currents off the coast of the islet. In the fortress there were cells without windows, located in the back of the building, although there were other conditions for wealthy people - they were located in the upper part of the building, where it was possible to enjoy the seascape and breathe fresh air.

Only at the end of the nineteenth century the prison ceased to exist, and the castle became a landmark of the country.

Serran Castle

The fortress of Serran was built in the sixteenth century, but, like many castles in France, ancient building significantly rebuilt in later centuries. The property originally belonged to the Le Bris family - they asked for permission to build it from Louis XI. Designed by the famous Philibert Delorme.

After the changes, the spirit of the Renaissance, characteristic of the period of Francis I, still remained here (almost all the castles of the Loire were built in it). The corner towers and moats are considered the oldest elements of the castle, which are harmoniously combined with the domes crowning the towers and wide windows. The towers at the top are decorated with balustrades.

On the facade of the building, decorated with a triangular pediment, white sandstone and dark brown slate create a beautiful contrast.

Castle of Carcassonne

This is a unique masterpiece of defensive and military architecture, which amazes with its grandeur and power. The castle of Carcassonne (France) consists of a two-row three-kilometer powerful wall with towers, the sight of which makes anyone tremble.

A distinctive feature of the castle is that a completely ordinary life goes on in this place - cars drive and people live. locals. Here you can feel like a resident medieval city– the entrance to the fortress is completely free and free!

It is located in the southeast on the right bank of the river. Od. Around it there is a double row of walls with a total length of about 3 kilometers, which are crowned with 52 towers. This fortress in Europe at one time was considered the most impregnable. On its territory there is a basilica and the count's castle of Comtal. The fortress has been included in the UNESCO list since 1997.

Clos Luce Castle

Of course, not all castles in France are associated with the name of the famous Leonardo da Vinci, but not this one. Leonardo, at the invitation of Francis the First, visited this region and lived here for the last 3 years of his life. He devoted this time to completing work on his canvases and inventions. Walking here will be pleasant and interesting for everyone. In this place, drawings and inventions of the master come to life, here every visitor will be able to discover true world this genius.

Ge Pean Castle

Studying the numerous castles of France, it is worth mentioning this medieval building, built near Ponlevois in the XIV-XV centuries. It is an elegant hunting pavilion square in plan. The fortress walls with towers end with a terrace. All of its residential buildings are located in the shape of the letter "P", forming a huge courtyard inside. Main building draw up round towers, and in the facade there are many elegant windows, due to which there is always a huge amount of light in the chambers.

Here there were such guests as Henry I, Lafayette, Balzac. The inner chambers were decorated in the style of the Renaissance period.

At the present moment, the owner is the Marquis de Keguelen. The castle is open to the public, with its most famous rooms being the salon, the Hall of the Guards, the library and the chapel. Many works of art have been used to decorate the interiors, this place houses furniture from Louis XV and XVI, stunning tapestries are displayed on the walls. The canvases decorating the castle belong to the brushes of famous artists, including Rigaud, Jean-Louis David, Fragonard, Guido Reni, Andrea del Sarto.

Legendary Versailles

Versailles, as one of the most famous castles in the country, annually attracts about 3 million visitors. The magnificent palace built in 1624 for Louis XIII as a hunting lodge. It later expanded to become the residence of the entire royal family. Unique Features The palace includes a corridor with 17 mirrored arches, a Hall of Mirrors and a huge number of other equally interesting details. Visitors to the Queen's bedroom can see a hidden door - Marie Antoinette made her escape through it. Versailles, with its stunning halls, is simply a must-see. We must not forget the 250-acre gardens of the palace, showing the geometric idyll of paths, flowers and trees.

For all tourists, travelers and vacationers, stunning landscapes, French charm, majestic castles of France will open here ... Today, all historical cultural monuments of the Middle Ages of the country are carefully protected, and many that were previously in a dilapidated state are now beginning to be restored.

Cupiac is a commune in France, located in the Midi-Pyrenees region. Department - Aveyron. It is part of the canton of Saint-Sernin-sur-Rance. The district of the commune is Millau. The population of the commune in 2008 was 473 people. Kupiak Castle (XIII century). Monument of history since 1928

Château de Calmont d'Olt

Château des ducs de Lorraine

Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine (now the Museum of Lorraine)

Lorraine Museum - historical Museum, established by the Lorraine Archaeological Society in 1848. Since its foundation, the museum has been located in the Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine in Nancy. The museum shows the history of Lorraine from ancient times to the time of the Empire. Along with the life of the ancient duchy and its capital Nancy, the museum also pays attention to the art and traditional crafts of Lorraine.

In the main building of the museum, located in the Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine, there is a historical museum. The Museum of Arts and Crafts of Lorraine is located in the building of the ancient convention of the Cordeliers.

Monument to the Duchess of Lorraine, Philippa of Geldern, (XVI-XVIII centuries). Gallo-Roman Jupiter trampling on the Anguipede.

Finally, in the church of the Cordeliers are the tombs of the Dukes of Lorraine. In addition, Montagu Castle belongs to the museum.

The museum has the following historical sections:

Period ancient history to the Merovingian, which includes the ancient Roman period;
The Middle Ages in Lorraine: from the rise of the Duchy of Lorraine to the Battle of Nancy in 1477 and the Renaissance;
Classic period: from Duke Charles III of Lorraine to Duke of Lorraine and Holy Roman Emperor Franz I;
The Age of Enlightenment and the reign of the last Duke of Lorraine Stanislav Leshchinsky (until 1766).
In addition to the historical sections of the museum, separate rooms are dedicated to artists who have made a great contribution to the development of Lorraine over the centuries:

François-André Vincent, "The Marquis La Galazière receives the title of Chancellor of Lorraine at the Château de Meudon from Stanisław Leszczynski on January 18, 1737" (1778).

View of the castle and the city of Commerce (XVIII century).

the Jacques Callot Hall, which presents numerous engravings by the famous engraver and draftsman;
room of Georges de Latour, where there are several paintings by the Lorraine artist depicting everyday life region of the 17th century;

Georges de La Tour, Woman with a Flea (1625-1650).

the sculptural hall of Richet Ligier, Paul-Louis Sifle, Clodion and others;

hall of religious sculpture;

scientific cabinet of the 18th century;
the hall of faience of Lunéville and Saint-Clément;

a rich collection dedicated to Judaism (the collection of the bookbinder and collector René Viener, a member of the Nancy school, which was transferred to the museum in 1939).

"treasures of Pouilly-sur-Meuse": 31 objects of the 15th-16th centuries, found in 2006 in this city, including coins and goblets. Considered a national treasure of France.

Palais des comtes du Maine

Château de Sainte-Suzanne (Mayenne)

Sainte-Suzanne is a picturesque old village located in the west of France in the department of Mayenne, Pays de la Loire region. She is a member of the association "Most beautiful villages France".

A little less than 1,000 people live here. This area went down in history under the name of "the pearl of the county of Maine", in the historical territory of which it was located.

Sainte-Suzanne stands on a hill, reaching 220 meters in height, known as "Mont Noir" (Mont Noir, which is translated from French means "black mountain").

To the north of the settlement there are even more high hills, on the slopes of which there are forests. Distance to the largest locality- Angers - is 88 kilometers.

The history of the settlement dates back to the 10th century, when the relics of St. Susanna were brought to the local temple, after whom the city was named. A century later, the city fortress was besieged by William the Conqueror. During the Hundred Years' War, Saint-Suzanne was held in the hands of the British for 14 years and was released only in 1439. In 1608, one of the ministers of King Henry IV of Navarre settled here. The city quickly acquired an important economic and administrative significance - the center of the parish was located here, frequent fairs were held, and salt mining developed. In the 19th century, more than 1800 people lived here.

The main religious building of the city is the Church of St. Susanna, which survived many destructions and subsequent restorations. Only the Renaissance portal and the bell tower have been preserved in their authentic form of the 16th century. The interior design of the church is quite modest, but it presents medieval wooden sculptures XIV-XV centuries.

Outside the city there is an old cemetery with a chapel of St. Mary Magdalene. When the main church was closed during the French Revolution, the parish temporarily moved to this chapel.

In addition to the castle of Saint-Suzanne, many stone mansions and mills of the 17th century have been preserved in the city. One of these houses houses the local historical museum, which displays the rarest medieval ammunition of the 15th century.

entrance to the museum

Three kilometers north of the settlement there is a monument of the Neolithic era - the burial mound dolmen des Herves, whose age reaches 6000 years.

Vitrified part of the castle wall of Saint-Suzanne. Vitrified forts - fortifications, the stone walls of which are subjected to vitrification, that is, partially melted, and the voids between them are filled with vitreous slag.

Fontenoy-le-Chateau

The fate of Fontenoy Castle is sad. At present, Fontenoy-le-Chateau is almost completely destroyed. Its ruins are located in the deportation of the Vosges in northeastern France. The main function of the castle has always been defense, which it carried out from the 11th century until its partial destruction in 1635, during the Thirty Years' War.

In the 11th century, the Abbey of Toul, which owns this land, laid the foundation of the tower to protect its territory and the valley of the river Cony. It was one of the first fortresses in the south of the Vosges, along with Épinal and Remirmont.

The castle was located on rocky exposed sandstone at the confluence of the rivers Cony and Chatelain, it was protected by a natural steepness on three of its sides, and the water from the nearby rivers allowed it to be flooded in case of danger. Main entrance protected by a dry moat, traces of which are still visible, thorn thickets also complicated the approach to the castle. The lower terrace was invulnerable and protected warehouses and barns. Twice in its history, the castle was seriously rebuilt in order to strengthen.

In 1360, the castle came to belong to the powerful family of Noufchâtel after the marriage of Thibaut VI to Marguerite de Chalon, Madame de Fontenoy. The castle was enlarged and was supposed to serve to defend the neighboring Duchy of Lorraine.

In the second half of the 16th century, the castle was adapted to artillery.

In 1596, as evidenced by the foundation stone of the castle, Diane de Dumpmarte and her husband Charles Philippe de Croix further strengthened the defenses of the castle, which made Fontenoy a safe and practically the only place for trading North and South.

The castle began to undergo the most significant destruction during the 17th century, when it was literally dismantled into stones in order to build houses. It was still somewhat preserved until the French Revolution, but since 1750, due to the intensive construction of the village of Fontenoy, the ramparts were dismantled and their stones were used for construction.

In 1784, Marc Antoine de Voyet described the castle as follows:

"The walls of the fortress, its gates, some towers were destroyed ... and everything that can be seen on the slabs of the castle: J" aime qui m "aime. vive Crouy (I love those who love me. Long live de Croix)"

The remains of the castle began to be considered a national treasure. The stone cladding almost completely disappeared, the sections of the walls from which the stones were taken out collapsed, the terraces were leveled with the ground over time. In the 19th century, stones were still used to build the town hall. Finally, to prevent the danger of the collapse of the remnants of the walls, some of them were even blown up.

In 1930, Mr. Louis Olivier wrote that "no one even tried to save the ruins".

Almost a thousand years later, even in ruins, the castle still looks impressive. The local association for the support of the castle of Fontenoy, founded in 1978, launched an operation to save the keep of the castle. The purpose of this project is to restore the buildings in the area of ​​the castle in order to stop its deterioration and stop the dismantling of the stones of the walls. The first stone of the new cladding was laid on July 5, 2008.

Chateau de Foix

Foix Castle is a French castle of the famous Counts of Foix in the Middle Ages, towering over the city of Foix in the Pyrenees. Important tourist site.

The history of the castle begins in 987. In 1002, the castle appears in the will of Roger the First, Count of Carcassonne, who left the fortress to his youngest son Bernard. From 1034 the castle becomes administrative center County of Foix and plays a significant role in military history Middle Ages.

The city of Foix is ​​known throughout the Ariège as the capital of the Cathar movement. For the next two centuries, the castle was the residence of the counts who became leaders of the Occitan resistance during the Albigensian Crusade.

The repeatedly besieged castle was taken only once in its history, in 1486, due to treason (during the war between the two branches of the Foix family). Beginning in 1479, the Counts of Foix became kings of Navarre, and the last of them, Henry IV, became king of France in August 1589 (crowned in February 1594 at Chartres).

He annexed the Pyrenean lands to France. The castle has been the residence of the governor of the Foix region since the 15th century and continued to defend the borders of the region, including during the religious wars. Before the Revolution, a garrison was based in the castle. The governors were Count Treville, known from the Three Musketeers, and Marshal Segur, minister under Louis XVI.

Since 1930, the museum of the department of Ariège has been located in the castle. The sections of prehistoric, Gallo-Roman and medieval archeology tell the history of the Ariège from ancient times.

Undoubtedly, France is a country of castles. This is the homeland of kings and brave knights, the keeper medieval legends and fairy tales. The architecture of French castles is varied and many-sided. Many of them survived the days of the Musketeers and the French Revolutions. Today, all of them are the property of the country and its sights.

Louvre Museum (Palais du Louvre)

Undoubtedly, speaking about the castle buildings of France, first of all, we should talk about the most famous of them - the French Louvre, which was based on a castle-fortress. Its main purpose was originally to monitor the lower reaches of the Seine in defense against the Vikings. For this purpose, in 1190, the Great Tower of the Louvre was built by King Philip Augustus. Much later, in 1317, the Louvre became a royal residence, and Charles V transferred the royal treasury here. In 1528, the Louvre began to be rebuilt into a palace, and in the 18th century it was converted into a museum.

Today it is the largest and richest Art Museum peace.

Versailles

No less popular French attraction is Versailles. This main residence French monarchs are visited by more than three million tourists. This is truly the richest castle in France, in which everything shines with luxury.

Built in 1624 as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII, Versailles was later greatly enlarged and rebuilt to accommodate the Royal Family.

Today, tourists are amazed by its magnificent halls, among which the so-called Hall of Mirrors makes a special impression. And also - the beautiful English gardens of this magnificent palace.

Loches (Château de Loches)

The oldest surviving donjon in France is Loches, built in the 9th century by the Angevin Count Fulk Nerra. This building has a quadrangular shape and is distinguished by its massiveness. However, Loches delights tourists not only with grandeur architectural structures but also the historical names that are associated with it. So, in the XII century, Losh belonged to the English king Richard the Lionheart, and later the main favorite lived here. french king Charles VII named Agnes Sorel. Among the famous prisoners of the castle is the patron of the great Leonardo da Vinci, Duke of Milan Lodovico Sforza, who was locked up here for more than 8 years.

Chambord Castle

Hereby architectural masterpiece Chambord is considered to be one of the most beautiful French castles in Renaissance France. This is one of the largest royal residences located in the Loire Valley, distinguished by its impressive size and remarkable design.
Built in the 16th century as a hunting residence for King François I, Leonardo da Vinci himself is believed to have designed this castle structure. It has over 400 rooms and 300 fireplaces, a double spiral staircase and elaborate domes, pediments and towers. In the decoration of the vaults of its halls there is a magnificent carving, in which the emblem of the monogram of King Francis I - the letter "F" and his talisman - the mythical animal salamander are used.

Chambord is in the center beautiful park, which today is a nature reserve, and the castle itself is protected by UNESCO.

Amboise (Château d`Amboise)

Another French castle, Amboise, is also associated with the name of Leonardo da Vinci. After all, it was in its vicinity that the famous artist lived last years and it is here, according to his will, that his ashes now rest. So, thanks to the name of Leonardo da Vinci, Amboise is one of the most famous castles in France and attracts a large number of tourists. In addition, this is the first architectural monument that was built in the Loire Valley in the Renaissance style. Its history began in the 11th century, when Fulk Nerra was its first owner, and the three-story castle acquired its current appearance at the end of the 15th century at the behest of Charles VIII. The Italian architects invited by him introduced the Renaissance style into the construction, which had not been practiced in France until now. In addition, it was here that the first regular garden appeared.

Longchamp (Palais Longchamp)

And of course, talking about the castles of France, one cannot fail to mention such a masterpiece of architecture as Longchamp - unique complex praising water. This beautiful palace was erected in Marseille in the middle of the 19th century by the architect Henri-Jacques Esperandieu in honor of the end of a global project for the city - the construction of a canal that saved the city from water shortages.

Since then, Longchamp has become the pearl of Marseille and a magnet for tourists. It consists of two unique museum, as well as an observatory, multi-level fountain complex and a zoological garden.

Rivau

In the list of famous castles in France special place also occupies Rivaud, which today is included in the honorary list of Monuments of the French national heritage. This castle, dating from the 13th century, was rebuilt under Charles VII in the 15th century. It became a powerful fortress, of which horses became an undoubted celebrity. No wonder Joan of Arc came here in 1429 in search of good horses for her army. Rivo is famous for its beautiful gardens, which are included in the list of the best national gardens.

If Castle (Château d'If)

However, many castles in France were used as prisons and became famous not so much for their architecture as for the names of the prisoners imprisoned in them. And the leader in this list of prison castle structures is undoubtedly the famous Chateau d'If, among the famous prisoners of which are Jean-Baptiste Chateau, Comte de Mirabeau, General Kleber.

France is rich in historical monuments, and perhaps the most significant of them are castles. During the Middle Ages, a huge number of castles were built in France. Kings, knights, courtiers and courtiers lived in them. All castles by architectural style and appearance totally different.

It is hardly possible to find a pair of twins. Many masterpieces of history have survived to our time. Now these are magnificent museums, architectural monuments, sights of the country, for the sake of visiting which a whole army of tourists comes to France all year round.

Angers castle

Initially, it was a small settlement. Angers Castle contained a mixture historical events And architectural styles. It is through the history of this castle that you can see the whole richest history emergence of the French state. For the possession of this castle, England and France repeatedly entered into a struggle between themselves.

Versailles is one of the most famous, majestic and beautiful castles in France. It was built during the reign of King Louis XIII and was a simple hunting lodge. But soon it was expanded, and the Royal family moved to live in it. For many years, Versailles has been the residence of kings.

Versailles is beautiful both inside and out.

It was hardly possible to find anything more worthy for the residence of kings. Versailles is beautiful both inside and out. Everyone dreams of walking around the castle, but even more desire is to walk through the huge, magnificent English gardens of the palace. Such a beautiful geometric idyll of flowers, trees and paths is rarely seen anywhere. It's practically unique.

vincennes castle

The greatest royal fortress, which is located in the suburbs of Paris near the island of Cité.

Vincennes Castle has survived to this day in its original form.

Unlike many castles in France, which were usually built on top of a hill or cliff, this castle was built on a plain. Special fortress ditches were dug and filled with water from a small stream. In the Middle Ages, the castle was surrounded by a forest in which there were many wild animals. After all, it was not for nothing that the favorite pastime of kings was hunting.

Trousset castle

Not far from Blois, in the Loire Valley, there is a small medieval Château de Trousset. Initially, it was a fortress, which was built in 1450. The oldest parts of the castle were built in the 16th century during the reign of Francis I.

In those days, the castle belonged to Robber de Bugi - the head of the royal stables, the king's squire. It was the dominion of the de Bugy family until 1732, but then the Peluis family, a family of lawyers, bought the castle. But they were also short-lived hosts. The castle passed from one owner to another until it was bought by the family of the scientist and historian Louis de la Saucey.

Located away from the bustle of the city majestic castle Chambord. This is very beautiful castle with magnificent architecture, it delights with its sophistication, elegance, and splendor. Chambord Castle is rightfully called a masterpiece of the Renaissance.

Chambord Castle is rightfully called a masterpiece of the Renaissance.

Its size and grandeur will not leave anyone indifferent. After all, it was not for nothing that King Francis I constantly thought about how to make Chambord Castle special. He even wanted to change the course of the river, if only the castle would overshadow the others with its splendor.

Usse castle

On the banks of the Indre, in the valley of Laura, there is a small medieval castle of Usse. The first owner who first built a wooden fortress in the 9th century was Gelduin de Saumur. And his son Gelduin II in 1040 laid the first stone of the castle, which has survived to our times. It was he who was described in his fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty" by Charles Perot.

This castle is truly beautiful. Beautiful nature, gloomy Chinon forest, deep rivers. The castle itself was built in dark colors, but its white towers could be seen from afar. The castle is full of delights of architecture of that time. As early as 1861, Usse Castle was recognized historical monument France.

Perhaps the most majestic building, which is located in the central part of the Loire Valley, is the castle of Chenonceau. This castle was built on the basis of a fighting fortress, which was surrounded by deep water moats.

Chenonceau Castle was built on the basis of a military fortress

And only with the help of a drawbridge it was possible to get into the fortress. The castle was built in the Renaissance, which was reflected in the architecture of the building. Everything is gorgeous both outside and inside. And this speaks of the refined and refined taste of its owners.

Chateau d'If

Still erected in the 16th century, the Chateau d'If has really survived to this day. The castle was built in the Mediterranean Sea on the island of the Friulian archipelago. Initially, its purpose was to stop any enemy attacks on Marseille from the sea. But the castle has a happy fate, because for the entire period of its existence it has never repelled a siege. That is why the original appearance of the castle has been preserved to this day.

This is perhaps the most favorite castle of tourists. After all, there is not a single person who does not know the story of the Count of Monte Cristo, which was told by Alexandre Dumas. Many want to personally plunge into the world of Edmond Dantes, to see with their own eyes the chamber where their favorite hero suffered for several decades.

If Castle was a prison for many aristocrats. Many sat in it and waited for their sentence, which was then carried out in the square in the center of the castle. To this day, the castle reeks of death.

Royal Castle of Amboise

by the most famous castle in the world it is considered to be the Royal castle of Amboise. This is the first architectural creation in the Loire Valley. The castle was built in the Renaissance style, but it can also be attributed to the Gothic structure. These two styles of architecture are already very tightly intertwined in the external design of the castle.

Royal castle of Amboise in the Renaissance style

The Royal Castle was built in the 11th century. The fame was brought to him by the many royal families who lived here. Here is the grave of the great artist Leonardo da Vinci. It is the Royal Castle of Amboise that belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Chinon Castle

IN old times Chinon Castle was a fortification system for three different castles. It was during the reign of Charles VII that the fortress flourished. Having begun reforms in the reorganization of France, announcing the abolition of the feudal order, the king moved to live in Chinon Castle.

A significant meeting of the papal legate Alexander VI and King Louis XII also took place within the walls of this castle. At this meeting, the king received the permission of the church to dissolve the marriage with Jeanne of Valois. This allowed the king to soon marry the widowed Anne of Brittany, thus becoming king for Brittany as well.

Over the years, Chinon Castle has lost its military value and turned into a prison.

Clos Luce Castle

No less famous castle of the Laura Valley is Clos Luce Castle. The fame of this castle was brought by the great Leonardo da Vinci. It was here that the famous Italian found refuge towards the end of his life.

The beautiful castle of Clos Luce, built of pink and white brick, was located near the Royal Château de Amboise. The first house built of colored bricks appeared here during the reign of Louis XI. Currently, these two neighboring castles can easily compete in beauty.

Chateau de Sumor is the largest and no less famous castle located in the Loire Valley. The castle itself was erected in the shape of an irregular quadrangle. Round white towers were erected in each corner, two of which have retained their original appearance to this day. Even the masonry, made in the 13th century, has been preserved.

Saumur Castle is a famous castle located in the Loire Valley

The remaining towers have been restored. east tower decorated with coats of arms that belonged to the Anjou family. It was originally a fortress. But the Duke of Anjou reconstructed it for the royal court. During the reign Louis XIV The castle serves as a prison.

During the wars of Napoleon, the castle was converted to store weapons and ammunition. Having passed a difficult life path, the Syumor castle was partially destroyed. Currently, the restored castle will soon begin to receive tourists, lovers of historical sights.

Of course, this is far from full list famous castles France. There are more than a thousand of them and you can talk about them for a long time. After all, the history of each castle is unique and interesting. These castles have lived interesting life into which our contemporaries are trying to look.

Video review of castles in France

The abundance of magnificent architectural and historical monuments located in the Loire Valley in France determined the inclusion of the Loire Valley from Sully-sur-Loire to Châlons-sur-Loire in the List world heritage UNESCO.