10 French Chateaux You Should Know About

The Loire Valley Chateaux are definitely a must-add to any France itinerary!

Even if you’re not the biggest history buff and don’t want to spend all your time in Chateaux, the Loire Valley is worth visiting just for the food. Between goat cheeses, delicious white wines, even sweet pralines…There’s something for everyone in the Loire Valley.

Then you add the incredible riverside views, the medieval to renaissance architecture. What’s not to love? Let me give another 10 reasons to visit the Loire Valley.

Not in a particular order, but you can definitely visit all of these Chateaux in one week or less, if you hurry. They’re scattered around the Loire river in a 200 miles journey, so there’s really no excuse not to visit all of them.

1. A Medieval Castle You've Never Heard of

The city of Angers has been long protected, 20,000m2 inside the castle walls, adjoined by 17 high towers.

The 13th century fortress, built by King St Louis’ mother at first, was a medieval royal residence. During the religion wars in the 16th century in France, King Henri III wanted the fortress demolished, but we’re lucky enough that a clever governor decided to transform the turrets into terraces instead, losing 10m in height, adapting them to the modern warfare and preserving the Chateau’s history.

The Duke of Anjou (region with Angers at its capital) also left their mark on the chateau with the invaluable amount of art left inside the keep, such as the Apocalypse Tapestry.

Unique in the world, the Apocalypse Tapestry was inscribed into the Unesco World Memory in 2023. It’s now hosted in a 20th century building, kept at constant temperature for preservation.

The Duke of Anjou, Louis the First, had the tapestry commissionned around 1375, to be able to transport it from chateau to chateau. It is a feat of artistry, measuring 140m wide and 6m high.

2. France's Tallest Chateau

Is there a better brag than to be able to say that you visited the tallest chateau in all of France?!

With 7 stories high, Chateau de Brissac sits at the top of France’s chicest chateaux, yes, even taller than Versailles. Brissac stats are as follows: 48m or 158 ft high, with about 200 rooms, sprawled over 8000m2 or almost or just under 2 acres! Visiting this chateau is probably the same as visiting a medieval town, it even hosts a theatre.

3. Napoleon's most visited Chateau

The Chateau de Valencay is definitely not a medieval chateau, and any history buff, or Napoleon specialist, will tell you a lot about the 19th century history of the Chateau.

Built in the 15th century, the Prince Talleyrand bought this chateau in 1803 to serve as hosting facilities for the not quite yet Emperor of France, Napoleon the 1st. Talleyrand modernised it to the classical taste of the time, changing the turrets into the domes we see today.

But the inside is not the only thing worth a visit, the gardens are remarkable and even keep a Napoleon labyrinth you can get lost in. What else do you really need before adding this chateau to the list?

4. A Chateau Garden You Won't Wan't to Miss

I haven’t discussed when is best to visit the Loire Valley Chateaux, because I believe there’s good weather in any month of the year for that region, but for Villandry, you really need to go in April when tulips are in bloom. Because then, it’s spectacular.

Chateau de Villandry is a masterpiece of restauration thanks to the great work of passionate people who wanted to breathe new life into it. The 16th century plans were used to keep the beautiful features of the building, even to the garden which first hosted new world treasures, like peppers and tomatoes.

It is a wonder to visit and something you shouldn’t miss.

5. The only French Chateau on an Island

This Chateau was described by classical french auteur Balzac, as “a faceted diamond, set in the Indre,” which technically doesn’t make it a Loire Chateau but given its proximity to the Loire river, it’s getting in the list.

Remarkable 16th century architecture aside, the chateau is now also at the crossroad of scientific reconstitution, thanks to a partnership between the Mobilier National and the Centre for National Patrimony of France, to refurbish the chateau.

Already a 140 pieces have been brought back to the chateau thanks to historical documents, while the soft furnishings have been recreated through archives.