The 10 most beautiful castles in Alpes-Maritimes
10 châteaux
Chosen among 58 recorded castles
What to see in Alpes-Maritimes when you only have a weekend: the 10 most visited castles according to their visitors’ reviews, among those open to the public whose visiting conditions we checked on the official website. For each: what you see, the entry price, the link to the full entry.
Ranked by attendance, from the number of Google reviews. “Beautiful” is your word; what we measure is what visitors choose.
No. 1
Palais de la Méditerranée
Nice
On the Promenade des Anglais, the Art Deco facade of the Palais de la Méditerranée is the sole survivor of the original casino, rescued from demolition at the last moment.
No. 2
Roquebrune castle
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Standing at the heart of the village of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, this medieval castle is also known as the Grimaldi castle. It dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was built to defend the area against Saracen raids.
Adult €5Hours, prices and access
No. 3
Palais Lascaris
Nice
Tucked into a narrow street of Vieux-Nice, this 17th-century baroque palace still holds its original decor: frescoed ceilings, a grand staircase framed by arcaded galleries, Flemish tapestries.
Adult €5Hours, prices and access
.JPG/960px-Monast%C3%A8res_de_L%C3%A9rins_(2014).JPG)
No. 4
Château fort ou ancien monastère de Lérins
Cannes
On the island of Saint-Honorat, facing Cannes, the fortified monastery of Lérins occupies buildings raised between the 11th and 14th centuries to shield the monks from seaborne raids. The massive tower standing at the water's edge once exchanged light signals with the Suquet tower on the mainland.
.jpg/960px-Cap_d'Antibes%2C_C%C3%B4te_d'Azur%2C_France_(52850837463).jpg)
No. 5
Château de la Garoupe (Garoupe Castle)
Antibes
Château de la Garoupe, in Antibes (Alpes-Maritimes), France. Location, access and practical information.
.jpg/960px-Le_Haut-de-Cagnes_01_(cropped).jpg)
No. 6
Château Grimaldi (Grimaldi Castle)
Cagnes-sur-Mer
Standing above the village of Haut-de-Cagnes, this fourteenth-century fortress served as the residence of the Grimaldi family of Antibes for nearly five hundred years, before being turned into an Italian-style palace in the early seventeenth century.
Adult €4Hours, prices and access
No. 7
Château de Tourrette-Levens
Tourrette-Levens
Perched on a rocky spur above Tourrette-Levens, this medieval castle recalls a stronghold raised in the 12th century by the Chabaud family, who held the fief until 1684. Of the six original towers, three round and three square, only one has survived to the present day.
No. 8
Château Valrose
Nice
On the heights of Nice, Valrose castle stands out for its neo-Gothic design, built in the last third of the 19th century for a wealthy Russian baron. The estate, now home to the university, still bears traces of a landscaped park once filled with Italian palm trees, pavilions and ornamental water features.
No. 9
Château de Mouans (Mouans Castle)
Mouans-Sartoux
Château de Mouans, in Mouans-Sartoux (Alpes-Maritimes), France. Location, access and practical information.
No. 10
Château de Villeneuve
Villeneuve-Loubet
Standing at the top of the village, Villeneuve-Loubet castle has crowned the hillside since the 13th century, when Romée de Villeneuve had its first walls raised.
Every castle in Alpes-Maritimes (58)Which ones open this weekend?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most beautiful castle in Alpes-Maritimes?
- The most visited in Alpes-Maritimes is Palais de la Méditerranée, first in this selection according to its visitors’ reviews. All 10 castles listed are open to visitors with checked hours.
- How much does a visit cost?
- The adult entry price is shown under each castle when the official website publishes it; 0 of these castles are free.
- How is this selection made?
- Among the 58 castles recorded in Alpes-Maritimes, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.