179 Iconic Buildings to Explore in France

A well preserved castle ruin which was located in the commune of Saint-Michel-de-Boulogne. The castle was built in the eastern corner of the medieval city and thus became an integral part of its defenses. At present the castle houses a museum. The museum however is just a regular world history museum and not related to the castle's history. This is a beautiful castle in a very nice old town.

Classified as a historical monument and located in Bréz in France, the "Château de Brézé" is a beautiful castle built between the 16th and 19th centuries. The galleries running under the castle are especially unique, creating a true underground fortress that can be visited. This collection of troglodytes is home to wine cellars, wine presses, a restaurant, a silkworm farm, etc.

Home of Duke of Brissac, Château de Brissac is the tallest castle located in historic valley Loire, France. The original castle was built in the 11th century. The Duke of Brissac later took ownership of the original medieval castle and decided to demolish the building and replace it with a new castle in the 15th century. The chateau is also open for visits and the annual Val de Loire festival is celebrated in its lavish gilded theatre.

A simple fortified house built in the twelfth century by Renaudin lord of Bussy in a wooded valley near the archaeological site of Alesia. Historical Monument in 1862, it is owned by the state since 1929 and the building is managed by the National Monuments Center. Further restoration of the building has been carried out since the 1970s.

The Chateau de Chambord, located in the Loire Valley of Loir-et-Cher, France, was built between 1519 and 1547 CE. This fine French Renaissance building which is incredible with its size and architecture was built by Francis I. This largest castle was built to serve as a hunting lodge for Francis I. One of the unique buildings in this area and it is now one of the main attraction.

A Majestic fortress which was built around the year 1000 to keep watch over the border between the counties of Blois and Anjou. It was owned by the Amboise family for a good 500 years. It was one of France's largest, most impressive historical sites. Located in the center of the Loire Valley, home to several medieval castles and it is famous for its architecture too. One of the most t visited locations in this area and is protected as a Monument Historique since 1840, the château was given into

One of the beautiful castle located in the heart of France which is also called the ladies chateau’ as throughout its history it is they who have most influenced its design and its destiny. The current château was built in 1514–1522 on the foundations of an old mill and was later extended to span the river. An architectural mixture of late Gothic and early Renaissance and it also has a beautiful garden that is open to the public.

A beautiful castle which was the remains of ancient French architecture. Built between the years of 1604 and 1634, and changed little since, the castle presents an immaculate picture of symmetry, peace, and the aristocratic good life. The interior reflects a living history of the generations of the family and it is still owned by descendants of the original builders. There is also a beautiful garden around this place and is one of the visitors paradise.

A majestic medieval castle which was the birthplace of writer François-René de Chateaubriand. it was constructed between the 12th and the 15th century to defend the Dol Cathedral. A guided tour of the castle described so vividly his Memoirs reveals the rich and tragic history of this illustrious family. One of the beautiful structures which shows light to the history of this area.

One of the beautiful castle which was located in the heart of Brittany which was famous for its collections. It has a vast collection of the imaginary world of Brocéliande, the Celtic world, medieval literature, romantic renewal, artistic creations, and contemporary collections. It was a forest castle in the olden ages at the Paimpont forest. Today, the castle is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

Château de Cormatin is surrounded by moats filled with water and a magnificent 12-hectare park featuring flowerbeds, a traditional kitchen garden, a box tree maze, ornamental lakes, and 200-year-old lime trees. The castle was classified as a historical monument in 1862 and 1903 and various parts of the park were inscribed in 2019.

This unique historic building in France, with its 70-meter façade, is governed by imposing circular towers, crowned with well-preserved wood hourds. It s construction began in 1180. it was once owned by Sully and also the Price of Condé. The castle, listed as a monument historique at the start of the 20th century. tody the chateau is beautifully restored and is maintained in good condition. The castle is open to visitors every day from Easter to the end of October.

A majestic castle which was built in 1382 by John IV of Montfort, Duke of Brittany. It stands on the Medieval rampart of the town. It was an example of the ancient architecture of France and also it paves light to the ancient history of this area. The castle was listed for protection as a monument historique in 1886. It is owned by the commune and houses the local museum.

The Château de Foix is a castle in the French département of Ariège. An important tourist site, it dominates the town of Foix and was once a Cathar Castle. It is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture. It was the home of the celebrated family of counts who became the viscount of Béarn, then kings of Navarre and kings of France.

The Chateau de Fontainebleau is a royal castle of mainly Renaissance and classical styles, near the city center of Fontainebleau, about sixty kilometers south-east of Paris, France. The first traces of a castle in Fontainebleau date back to the xii th century. The latest work is done in the xix th century. Francis I and Napoleon were the monarchs who had the most influence on the Palace as it stands today. It became a national museum in 1927 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 198

An impressive castle with a curtain wall and 13 towers. A beautiful architectural wonder which takes you to medieval times and tells the fascinating history of the fortress. The current castle dates from the 12th century and consists of three enclosures whose walls are dotted with towers. It was one of the main tourist attractions in this area and also a nice place which paves the way for the history of France.

Originally an 11th-century structure, it was entirely rebuilt at the end of the 15th century, with only the large, square keep remaining original. Fougères is distinguished from other great châteaux by a more sober and robust architecture, mixing the styles of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The walls of the château of Fougères-sur-Bièvre are made from the hard limestone of Beauce. The softer and whiter tufa limestone, from the Cher valley, was used for the more decorative elements.

The Château de Hautefort is a French château and gardens located in the town of Hautefort in the Dordogne. The castle was originally a medieval fortress that was reconstructed in the 17th century, and embellished with a jardin à la française. In 1853, the landscape architect, Count of Choulot, redesigned the gardens, adding a landscape garden, geometric flower gardens, topiary gardens imitating the domes of the château, and a long tunnel of greenery.

A majestic castle which was fortified inb the 16th century which was located close to the town of Saint-Vougay. It was built for members of the Barbier family. It was damaged during the french revolution and The building was taken into state care in 1911 and restored in the late 20th century. This castle was located in a 20-acre land and there is a beautiful park and there are so many architectural structures.

The Renaissance castle, surrounded by the arms of the Indre, recalls that of Azay-le-Rideau, its neighbor. Two brothers, we often say ... Today it is the home of the current owners who have the pleasure of sharing their home, showing the rooms currently inhabited and thus the development of a castle in the 21st century.