Summer holidays 2023: Here are the 5 most beautiful castles in France that are worth a visit

With summer approaching, and due to accelerating inflation, 55% of French people prefer France for their summer holidays. An opportunity for them to rediscover the local riches of our region, especially in terms of heritage. An overview of the most beautiful castles in France.

Head to France for the holidays. With inflation accelerating, the French are increasingly planning to stay in France during the summer holidays of 2023 in order to take advantage of the local riches and good weather. According to a survey he conducted YouGov for Readly in March 2023Around 55% say they want to do “100% French” tourism, compared to 23% who want to go abroad.

While some respondents prefer the beach, sun and cities on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, others choose cultural and historical places with the aim of supporting heritage.

From the impermissible residence of Louis XIV to the breathtaking castles of Cathar country, passing through the emblematic buildings of the Loire or the famous Haute-Königsberg castle in Alsace, every region has its own gem. Walls tower.

Versailles Palace – Ile de France

It is the most visited castle in France. In 2022, the Palace of Versailles will receive 6.9 million visitors. The residence of the Sun King, which celebrates its 400th anniversary this year, cultivates super formulas with its 64,110 square meters, its 50 staircases, its 118 chimneys, and its famous 75-meter Hall of Mirrors.

The Palace of Versailles is built on former moors, which today cover 800 hectares, notably the Queen’s Pavilion, the gardens of Le Nôtre site and its sublime perspective on the Grand Canal.

For the summer of 2023, the estate plans an extraordinary program, such as the exhibition “Masterpieces from the King’s Chamber” (until July 16), the “Parfumeur Garden” to discover the history of perfumes at the Court of Versailles or even the “Interior Cabinets of Marie Antoinette” to immerse yourself in the midst of the renovated private chambers of the Queen.

Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle – Ile-de-France

Located 50 kilometers from the capital, it inspired Louis XVI to build the Palace of Versailles. The residence of Nicolas Fouquet, superintendent of finances to the Sun King, its gardens signed by André Le Notre, the architecture by Louis Le Vaux and the decoration by Charles Lebrun.

A team that Louis XIV will gather again to create the Palace of Versailles.

Chenonceau Castle – the center of the Loire Valley

The Château de Chenonceau was built in 1513 according to the wishes of Katherine Briçonnet, member of the nobility, in the royal domain by King François I himself in 1535. A few years later, King Henry II donated it to his favourite, Diane de Poitiers. An exit from the royal domain that made it possible to save the castle, two centuries later, during the Revolution.

This region is also characterized by the presence of many women who built, restored, decorated and preserved it such as Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Médicis or Louise Dupin, and this gem represents the spirit of its stunning architecture as it straddles the Loire.

Chambord Castle – the center of the Val de Loire

This is the most famous of the Loire castles. Located in the Loire, 17 km from Blois, this monumental building dates back to 1519, during the reign of François I (1515-1547). At the time, the castle had 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces, and more than 80 staircases. However, the king resided there for only 72 days..

The castle is built around a central axis: its famous double spiral staircase, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci.

If the construction of the castle actually ended only in 1685, during the reign of Louis XIV, today Chambord remains the only royal residence that remains intact from its creation.

Haut Koenigsbourg Castle – Alsace

An improbable rose-tinted medieval castle erected in the 12th century, perched on a spur and surrounded by greenery, Haut Koenigsbourg Castle has everything from a movie set.

“The bridges, armory, dungeons and cannons are constant reminders of the call of this mountain fortress besieged, destroyed and plundered,” we could read on the website of fort.

No wonder it inspired Seventh Art and served, among other things, as a filming location for Jean Renoir’s The Great Illusion or inspired Japanese director Miyazaki for his animated film Howl’s Moving Castle.