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Chateaupedia

French castles open in winter 2026-2027

280 châteaux stay open in January and February, out of the 792 whose season we know.

Most French châteaux close from November to March, or open only at weekends. The ones on this page announce a season that covers January and February: you can visit them in winter, without the summer crowds, often at a lower price.

Winter hours are shorter and some close one or two days a week: each name leads to its page, with the days and times taken from the château’s official website.

open in January and February
280
open all year
259
free to enter
27
seasons recorded
792

Near Paris

29 châteaux in the Île-de-France region open in January and February, all within a day trip of Paris.

In the Loire Valley

20 Loire Valley châteaux open in January and February. The valley is quiet in winter: it is the season to see Chambord or Amboise without queuing.

All the Loire Valley castles, on one map

Elsewhere in France, region by region

The best known in each region; each page gives the opening days.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine (6 of 54)

Occitania (6 of 41)

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (6 of 35)

Grand Est (6 of 20)

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (6 of 19)

Burgundy-Franche-Comté (6 of 19)

Normandy (6 of 12)

Brittany (6 of 10)

Hauts-de-France (6 of 10)

Pays de la Loire (6 of 8)

Centre-Val de Loire (Loire Valley) (2 of 2)

Corsica (1 of 1)

French winter holidays 2026-2027

French school winter holidays run from 6 February to 8 March 2027, depending on the zone. Weekends in that period are the busiest of the winter; on weekdays most of these châteaux are almost empty.

Frequently asked questions

Are French castles open in winter?
A minority. Of 792 châteaux whose season we know, 280 stay open in January and February, or 35%. 259 are open all year.
Which castles near Paris can you visit in winter?
29 châteaux in the Île-de-France region are open in January and February, including Palace of Versailles, Palace of Fontainebleau, Château de Breteuil and Château de Monte-Cristo.
Are the Loire Valley castles open in winter?
The major ones are: 20 Loire Valley châteaux are open in January and February, including Château de Chambord, Château de Cheverny, Château d'Amboise and Château de Villandry. Hours are shorter than in summer.

For the press

These figures are free to use with credit to Chateaupedia. A selection for your section (near Paris, for families, free entry, by region) is available on request at presse@chateaupedia.com.

Method

We read the season and hours each château publishes on its official website, rechecked nightly. “Open in winter” means the announced season covers January and February. A château whose season is unknown is counted neither open nor closed.