The following is a collection of castles that I have visited in France as well as a few that I have seen in Germany. They are listed in no particular order other than being grouped together according to their geographical location but I have included a photo of a map of their locations within the country to give you a general idea of their whereabouts.
We didn't go inside all of them, for various reasons, and I did not list them in the order of my personal preferences. However, I will provide a list of my favorites at the bottom of the page with a brief description as to why tat is the case. I'm not including any of the German castles in my top 5 list though because I want to keep this country specific. I also have not been inside any of the German castles nor have I seen a wide enough variety of them to make a fair judgement.
That being said, the following is my collection. I hope you enjoy!
The Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is located in the central part of France just south of Paris. It is known for its lush gardens and a dense cluster of castles that are situated along the Loire River and its tributaries. The castles mostly date back to the Renaissance period and each are unique and grand in their own way. They are also steeped in history.
Northern France
Northern France has several castles scattered around the Paris area. Many have a similar architectural style as Chateau de Versailles but there are also several unique gems here and there if you know where to look for them.
Other Places in France
You can pretty much find castles all across France but I have only personally been to one in the South and one in the far eastern side of the country.
Germany
My Top 5 Favorites
1. Chateau de Chantilly
It was a really tough decision but after giving it some thought I have to say that the castle in Chantilly is my favorite in France. It is large and intricately decorated both inside and out and is supremely preserved throughout. The architecture is impressive and the setting and location within the city is really quite breathtaking. The castle is surrounded by a moat and at dusk the reflection off the water is really extraordinary. The grounds and gardens are quite large as well, and the inside is a museum that contains a wide variety of French art. There is certainly a lot to see in Chantilly and its easy to make a day out of your visit. As a bonus you can view the stables and the horse museum with the price of admission.
2. Chateau de Chenonceau
Chateau de Chenonceau is a close second on my list and was actually in first place for a long time. The castle is unique in that it is both a chateau and a bridge that spans a river. You can watch the water pass under you from the gallery, which is also set up like a museum. The inside is decorated nicely with fresh cut flowers in every room and a really neat feature is that you are able to tour the kitchens, a relatively uncommon thing among the castles in France.
3. Chateau de Chambord
Like Chenonceau, Chateau de Chambord also located in the Loire Valley. It is impressive in its size as well as its intricacy and detail. It has some really neat architectural features both inside and out and has an amazing lookout spot on its rooftop.
4. Chateau de Pierrefonds
Chateau de Pierrefonds is a fairytale castle situated in a small town about an hour or so north of Paris. It is unique because it is more of a military fortress than a palace residence. Admission for the castle is super cheap at around 8 euros (most are around 20 euros) and it has a really interesting and detailed courtyard. It also briefly appeared in the movie "The Man in the Iron Mask," which is kind of neat as well.
5. Chateau de Villandry
It was quite difficult for me to decide on my fifth favorite castle but in the end I chose Chateau de Villandry because of its gardens. The castle itself is nothing special but it has the most intricately decorated gardens that I have seen in all of France. There are flower gardens, trimmed hedges that are laid out in unique patterns and even vegetable gardens planted in various complex designs. The property also contains a forested area, ponds, a small hedge maze and several walking paths to explore.
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