Castles of France
map viewFrance's castles range from Loire Valley châteaux to medieval fortresses, and these six show the variety. In the Loire Valley, Chambord is the largest château, and Chenonceau spans the River Cher on its arches. Mont-Saint-Michel crowns a tidal island in Normandy, and the Cité de Carcassonne is a walled medieval city with 52 towers. In Avignon, the Palais des Papes was the seat of the popes in the 14th century, and Vauban's Citadel of Besançon guards a loop of the River Doubs. May–June and September–October are the most pleasant months to visit.
Mont-Saint-Michel, France
A tidal island crowned by a medieval abbey on the border of Normandy and Brittany, reached by a footbridge and free shuttles; the village is free, the abbey costs €13–16.
Château de Chambord, France
The largest château of the Loire Valley, built for Francis I from 1519, with its famous double-helix staircase, a skyline of turrets and Europe’s largest walled forest park.
Palais des Papes, Avignon, France
The vast Gothic palace of the 14th-century popes in Avignon, a UNESCO site; open daily, tickets €16 or €19.50 with the Pont d'Avignon.
Cité de Carcassonne castle, France
A walled medieval city above the River Aude with 3 km of double walls and 52 towers, restored by Viollet-le-Duc; the streets are free, the Château Comtal and ramparts need a ticket.
Château de Chenonceau castle, France
The “Ladies’ Château” of the Loire Valley, with its Renaissance gallery spanning the River Cher on arches and the gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de’ Medici, open every day of the year.
Citadel of Besançon, France
Vauban fortress on a rock above the Doubs loop in Besançon, UNESCO-listed, with three museums and a zoo; adult ticket €13.50 (Apr–Oct).
Castles in France on the map
Numbers match the ranking above. Click a pin to open the place.
Best time to visit castles in France
When sightseeing is most pleasant: comfortable 18–26 °C daytime temperatures and more dry days. Averaged over the places on this page.
ERA5 climate data 2015–2024 (Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), averaged for the places on this page.
Tickets: what it costs to visit castles in France
Adult entrance prices, cheapest first. What the ticket includes and what you can see for free.
| Place | Region | Adult ticket | Ticket includes | Free without a ticket | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citadel of Besançon | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | €9.50–13.50 | Citadel, three museums and zoo | — | €13.50 Apr–Oct, €9.50 low season; ages 4–7 €5.80, under 4 free |
| Mont-Saint-Michel | Normandy | €13–16 | Abbey | Village, ramparts and footbridge | €13 low season, €16 high season; free under 18 and for EU residents aged 18–25 |
| Cité de Carcassonne castle | Occitania | €13–19 | Château Comtal and ramparts | Streets and squares of the Cité | €19 April–September, €13 October–March; free under 18 and for EU residents aged 18–25 |
| Palais des Papes | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | €16 | Palace with Histopad tablet guide | Under 10 | €19.50 combined with the Pont d’Avignon; €10 for ages 10–17 |
| Château de Chenonceau castle | Centre-Val de Loire | €19–24 | Château and gardens | — | €19 with a guide leaflet, €24 with an audio guide; children under 7 free |
| Château de Chambord | Centre-Val de Loire | €21–31 | Château and French gardens | — | €21 for EEA residents, €31 for other visitors; free under 18 and for EEA residents under 26 |
Prices checked: 10.2026. Always check the official website before you go.
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