Famous French Castles
From LoveToKnow French
The châteaux of France are world-renowned and tourists flock to the most famous French castles each year much like to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
There are many famous French monuments, but the châteaux have a particular charm to them that not all of the monuments enjoy. For many tourists, especially non-European ones, the French castles invoke a kind of romance that few other monuments can create.
Of course, the Eiffel Tower is probably the most famous of any monument, castle or museum in France; still, the French châteaux are widely known. Versailles is perhaps the most well-known of the French châteaux and because of its close proximity to Paris, many tourists make a day-trip out to see the castle and grounds. The châteaux were a place for royalty to vacation and very few actually served as full time residences. Many kings enjoyed hunting and brought distinguished guests to the castle to go on hunting expeditions with them.
Famous French Castles: The Loire
One region of France boasts the most beautiful and most historic of châteaux. These castles are all centered around the Loire River Valley. The Loire itself is the largest river in France and gives way to rich fertile land and beautiful scenery. It's no surprise that this river was a kind of hub around which several famous French castles were built.
Some of the castles are along the Loire itself, while others are tucked into the woods a few kilometers from the Loire. Additionally, there are several, smaller, rivers that run north and south of the Loire and meet the Loire at different points along the way; these rivers also have châteaux along their banks.
Blois
The château in Blois is most famous for its light shows, which are extremely popular in the summer months. During these shows, a light spectacle is projected onto the walls of the castle, telling the history and drama of the château. Another thing that the castle in Blois is famous for is the spiral staircases. Several famous castles have spiral staircases, but few are as beautiful as the outdoor one pictured at left.
Chambord
Does the name sound familiar? A famous French liquor shares its name with this château. Chambord is one of the most regal of all the French castles and boasts an impressive roaming ground. Chambord (pictured at the top of this page) is surrounded by a huge national park/forest with kilometers of walking and biking trails. Discovering the forest can be a welcome break from hopping from one château to another. Chambord was one of the many hunting retreats that the kings of France built for themselves and their royal guests, hence the massive forest.
Cheverny
Cheverny is one of the few French residential castles. Descendents of the original owners still take up residence there, keep hunting dogs and operate the day to day functions of the castle. This is one of the main reasons why so many tourists are still visiting this chateau; the idea that it is still inhabited by a family gives it a whole new aspect of romance.
Touring the inside of the castle is possible, but of course, the areas of the house that are actually presently inhabited are closed off from the public. Still, you will find many interesting rooms to look inside and romanticize about all the glamorous living that has gone on in the building before you set foot inside it. While touring the grounds, don't miss out on observing the pack of hunting dogs that still reside on the property.
Cheverny is in the heart of the goat cheese producing area of the Loire River Valley, so don't miss out on the local products after visiting the château.
Gardens and Grounds
As mentioned above, several French castles were originally 'hunting camps' of French kings; they were the ideal place for the king to escape when the politics of Paris became too much to handle. For this reason, the grounds of the châteaux are beautifully landscaped, and the gardens are still producing an abundance of herbs, flowers and plants. Some visitors skip the interior of the castle altogether and enjoy the outdoor areas only. The magic of the châteaux is certainly found both inside, and outside, the walls of these majestic buildings.
Several options exist for visiting the French châteaux. A luxury trip can be arranged through organizations such as Travel off the Beaten Path. Other travelers prefer to get good maps of the Loire Valley, rent a bike and bring a tent, and tour the châteaux that way. Whatever your personal traveling style, the Loire Valley castles make for a fantastic destination.
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