Strolling Through Beautiful Castles France

Chateau de Amboise

Chateau de Amboise is located on a hilltop overlooking the Loir Rvie in the Loire Valley. The chateau was partially designed by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. The castle is a combination of Gothic, Renaissance, and 19th-century styles. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the property of Château d’Amboise is the Chapel of Saint Hubert where you can find the grave of the Renaissance master himself who lived and worked in the town of Amboise in his last three years.

Chateau de Chambord

Chateau de Chambord is the largest chateau in the Loire Valley built in the Renaissance style. It was originally a hunting lodge for King Francis I. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of the architectural highlights is the spectacular open double-spiral staircase that is the centerpiece of the château. The two spirals ascend the three floors without ever meeting, illuminated from above by a sort of light house at the highest point of the château.

The beautiful landscaped gardens are a favorite place for strolling. You can take a self-guided or guided tour of the chateau.

Chateau de Chantilly

Chateau de Chantily is a short distance from the capital, Paris. Inside the castle is one of the finest art galleries in France. The artworks were once part of the collection of the Duke of Aumale.

On the first floor the large suites were used as reception rooms by the Princes of Bourbon-Conde. Among the decor are decorative arts, furniture and Old Master paintings.

The chateau has one of the most extensive libraries in France. The reading room designed by architect Honoré Daumet at the end of the 19th century forms a showcase for the manuscripts of the Princes of Condé and the Duke of Aumale’s treasures.

The castle is surrounded by lovely garden with lakes, canals, wooded areas, and manicured lawns. Among the highlight are an Anglo-Chinese garden with a hamlet of houses and a romantic English garden.

The Great Stables house a museum dedicated to equestrian art.

Chateau de Chenonceau

Chateau de Chenonceau is located in the Loire Valley built over the River Cher. This Renaissance chateau was built in the 16th century on the site of an old mill and was once a royal residence. It has impressive pointed towers and turrets and elegant courtyards. There are masterpieces by Rubens and Tintoretto on display beside finely crafted Renaissance-era furniture and tapestries.

Chateau de Fountainebleau

Château de Fontainebleau is one of the most beautiful castles in France. The castle is located 55 km southeast of Paris.The first castle was surrounded by forest and built in XII century as a hunting ground for the King of France Louis VII. Afterward the castle was enlarged.

The present castle is a combination of Renaissance and Classicism styles. The elegant rooms and grand halls are lavishaly decorated. The highlights here are the Gallery of Francis, the Ballroom and the Chapel of the Trinity.

Chateau de Fountainbleau is known for its amazing gardens that represent the landscaping styles of their periods. The Grand Parterre is the largest in Europe.

Palace of Versailles

Palace of Versailles is the most famous palace in France just 10 miles outside of Paris. It was once the former seat of power for France. Today it is a museum that informs about French history. The palace was built by King Louis XIII in 1631 in the French Baroque style. There are 2,300 rooms, a luxurious park, decorative gardens and a Grand Canal.

One of the highlights is The Hall of Mirrors connects the King and Queen’s apartments and is decorated with more than 350 mirrors.

French landscape architect Andre Le Notre planned the gardens of Versailles. There are ornamental basins, statues, and bronze groups. The Latona Fountain was sculpted by Gaspard and Balthazard Marsy. The fountain depicts the events of Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.