Built: 12th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: Sometimes, usually only the gardensNotable: –Web: – The castle located close to the city of Lannion in Brittany, the Chateau de Kerduel, is in the Pleumeur-Bodou area. The oldest part of the castle was built in the 12th century. Legend has it that King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table …
Built: 1340Status: MuseumVisitable?: YesNotable: Used in many moviesWeb: Fort La Latte If the Fort-La-Latte castle looks familiar, it is. This fortress has been used in many historical movies (like The Vikings with Kirk Douglas). The Fort was built to protect the Brittany (Bretagne) coastline, including St. Malo and Dinard. The fortress is located on a …
Built: 1400Status: PrivateVisitable?: Yes, castle and gardensNotable: –Web: Chateau Kergrist Sometimes taking a wrong turn on the country roads brings you deep inland, and to some very surprising scenery. One of them, after having taken a wrong turn in Brittany was this amazing castle; the Chateau Kergrist. Hidden away from big roads, this is a …
Built: 12th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: Yes (sometimes)Notable: –Web: – The castle at the seatown of Pornic in Pays de Loire is the most visible item in the scenic landscape. It dominates the town. The castle is located partially on the sea promenade, partially on the public beach. So although the castle is in private hands, you …
Built: 15th centuryStatus: WineryVisitable?: Yes, as a guestNotable: The castle is a modified fortress, now a luxury hotel (this is no longer a hotel but a winery). The castle used to belong to the Marquis la Fayette (the French general who helped the USA gain its independence from the UK)Web: Chateau de Reignac This absolutely beautiful …
Built: 17th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: –Web: – Located in a small beach town resort between Veules-les-Roses and Dieppe, slightly away from the coast, you will see this beautiful castle alongside the winding road. You can’t miss it if ever you are driving along that part of the Normandy coast. The castle is totally private and can …
Built: 15th centuryStatus: Public/MuseumVisitable?: Yes (1st Sunday of the month is free)Notable: xxxxWeb: Chateau de Saint-Germain-de-Livet In a small 800 person village close to Lisieux is a castle that looks like a fairytale castle, the kind kids would draw. The village is called Saint-Germain-de -Livet, and the castle dates back to the 15th century. The castle was donated …
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 …
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 …
Tours, in the centre of France, is an old city created by the Roman Emperor Augustus. The inner city is pedestrian surrounded by old houses.
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 …
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 …
