France has some of the most beautiful and incredible castles and chateaux in the WORLD; Here are 12 Most Amazing Chateaux in France !
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12. Azay-le-Rideau
11. Chenonceau
10. Château d'Ussé
9. Château de Blois
8. De Sully Sur Loire
7. Le Château de Langeais
6. Chateau Villandry
5. Château des Ducs de Bretagne
Despite the name, this chateau is not situated in the province of Bretagne or (Brittany in English) but in the heart of the city of Nantes, in western France, in the Loire-Atlantique department. However it was apart of Bretagne up until 1941. It served as the residence for the Dukes of Brittany and is entirely surrounded by a moat. In 1466 it was reconstructed with. This chateaux serves as a museum to visitors of Nantes currently whichs hosts a variety of different exhibits. Originally built as a military fortress, that role disappeared in the late 16th century. The most notable historical event that took places here was the signing of the Edict of Nantes, which gave protestants newly found rights at a time when France was primarily Catholic.
4. Château de Chantilly
Finally we venture off from the the renaissance style Loire River valley chateaux and in to the town of Chantilly, located Northeast of Paris. This chateau is comprised of two main part s, the Petit Chateau built in the 16th century and the Grand Chateau which was destroyed d uring the French Revolution but later repaired in the 1870’s. What you mostly need to know abo ut this chateau is that it’s the current location of the Musée Condé
which houses the 2nd largest collection of paintings in France only after the Louvre. This includes works by Raphael, Fra Angelico, Nicholas Poussin.
3. Fountainebleau
Located Southwest of Paris, the Fontainebleau is certainly one of largest chateaux and palaces in France. Its origins date back to the 1100’s and used by French Royalty from Louis VII to
Napoleon III. Completely surrounded by forests and artificial lakes, it was a favorite hunting lodge of Royalty. The medieval castle that stood at this location was given a serious upgrade by the architect, Gilles Le Breton once again by Francois I. King Henry the IV made additional upgrades to the palace, devoting much time to the parks and gardens around the chateau. This lavish palace even served as a prison to Pope Pius after Napoleon had conquered the papal states. It continued to serve as the residence for Napoleon and Napoleon’s relatives, and their bedrooms were quite decorated! Many leaders of France have had their own bedroom here but one of the most impressive is that of Queen-Mother Anne of Austria, that we see here. The history of this amazing chateau continues even 2nd world war where it was used as a headquarters for Nato until 1966.
2. Chambord
The most well-known and debatably the most amazing chateau in the Loire River Valley is the Château de Chambord. It displays distinct French renaissance architecture and when construction began 1519, it was built specifically to act as the hunting lodge of Francois I. Francois spared no expense in having this one completed, and some believe that Leonardo Da Vinci was even involved in the design. The primary architect was Domenico da Cortona from Italy, who also helped design the Hotel de Ville in Paris. The northwestern facade of this iconic building is quite imposing and it displays nearly perfect symmetry. This could certainly be most impressive building constructed under the impactful rule of Francois I.
1.Versailles
The most well-known and popular chateau to visit in France is often considered to be the chateau of Versailles, located in the Ile-de-France region, situated 12 miles southwest of Paris. This was also originally built as a royal hunting lodge and it’s a prime example of royalty in France indulging before the French revolution. Construction began with king Louis the XIII it quickly became the new seat of French Royalty and the home of King Louis XIV. The h all of mirrors is renown for it’s elegance and numerous chandeliers. Here we see the opulent queens apartment that you can tell is pretty fancy! The sophisticated gardens of Versailles are unmatched in France and complete with orangeries. It’s been the location of many important treaties that would change history and is estimated to be worth 50 billion dollars, but it’s not for sale!