Some of the many castles (chateau) that are to be seen in France, though many are private.
Built: 14th centuryStatus: Public (ruins)Visitable?: YesNotable: Web: Driving around the Brittany coastline you might just see some signs for the Guildo Castle. You’ll need to take a few country roads to get there, but once there you’ll see something pretty amazing. Located some 500 meters from the town and bridge are the ruins of a …
Nestled close to the Southernmost border between Spain and France in the Basque area, Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a small city of some 15,000 inhabitant but with a big history. More about the history further on… Saint-Jean-de-Luz is located South of Biarritz and on the Atlantic coast. It has a large and long beach, which is quite …
St. Malo in Brittany is one of those cities (population around 50,000) that shows very well why France is the #1 tourist destination in the world. It’s a medieval city, well maintained with an enormous walled city, enormous fortress towers, a big harbour, many old and majestic houses and cobblestone streets lined with restaurants. Definitely …
Built: 17th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: –Web: – This castle, located in the small village of Saint Martin-Aux-Buneaux, Normandy, is in dire need for some TLC (Tender Loving Care). Built in the 17th century, with the gate built the century before and with several extensions made in the 19th century, this private residence has for the …
Built: end 19th centuryStatus: PublicVisitable?: Yes the grounds only for freeNotable: Was the official residence of the King of Belgium during WWIWeb: – Deep in the rich and wealthy city of Sainte-Adresse, next to the city of Le Havre, there are a few luxurious “villas” from yesteryear. Many of these mansions date back to the …
If ever there was a castle/fortress that merits a detour to go and visit, it’s this one, belonging to the Duke of Brittany. Stunning.
The castle, recently renamed to Chateau de Sissi, is to be found in the small village Sassetot-le-Mauconduit in Normandy. It’s biggest claim to fame is that the Austrian Empress Sissi stayed there (and is rumoured to having given birth to an illegitimate child).
Built: 17th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: –Web: – The beautiful and impressive chateau de Fiquainville is nicely hidden from onlookers, high up the hills of the Valmont valley and river. The castle was built on top of ruins of an older castle, but not much more information could be found. It was built during the 17th …
Tips on how to get to Tours, stay there, eat there and get around Tours. Also tips on what to do and what to see.
Built: 1896Status: PrivateVisitable?: YesNotable: Made out of pink granite, located a few meters of the coastline on an islandWeb: – The Cotes-d’Armor coastline around Perros-Guirec is rugged and made out of solid pink granite. This rocky surface made for great building materials for the construction of castles and fortresses. One of these castles can be …
Built: 15th centuryStatus: HotelVisitable?: Yes, as customer or fee payingNotable: –Web: Chateau de Peufeilhoux Hidden away from most big roads in a little village in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, perched high up on a rock is the Chateau de Peufeilhoux. The construction of the Chateau de Peufeilhoux started towards the end of the 15th century with …
Built: 11th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: Name of the castle used for the “Count of Valmont” in the movie “Dangerous Liaisons”Web: – The Valmont castle is most impressive; a mixture between a fortress and a castle, perched high on a hill overlooking the town of Valmont in Upper Normandy. The families who owned it were numerous (including …
The city of Vannes in Brittany is old, and very well preserved. The fortified walls extend all along the old city centre and merits a visit.
The ramparts (fortified walls) of Vannes are near totally preserved over the centuries. There are not many of these left in France, and they can see seen from different angles. A highly recommended visit.
Built: 1883Status: Special Events HotelVisitable?: Yes, as a guestNotable: Close to the beachWeb: Chateau de Varengeville The castle located at Varengeville-sur-Mer, close to the Normandy coast, was built in 1883. The castle itself, though in private hands, can be rented for special occasions, like marriages or seminars. But please note, it’s not a hotel, so …
Built: 19th centuryStatus: Hotel/RestaurantVisitable?: Yes, as a customerNotable: Unrestricted and impressive view over the Indre river and valley and great restaurantWeb: Tortiniere RestaurantFood: FrenchPrice: ExpensiveRating: Excellent In the small village of Veigne, close to the city of Tours, you will find a magnificent estate that towards the middle of last century was turned into a luxury hotel …
Built: 1784Status: Private (rentable)Visitable?: Yes as customerNotable: unrestricted and impressive view over the Seine river and valleyWeb: – In the village of Villequier, up on the hills overlooking the Seine river valley in Normandy are several castles and manors. One of them, the biggest, is the Chateau de Villequier. The Chateau de Villequier was built …
