The 10 most beautiful castles in Bouches-du-Rhône
10 châteaux
Chosen among 82 recorded castles
What to see in Bouches-du-Rhône 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
Château des Baux (Baux Castle)
Les Baux-de-Provence
Perched on a rocky spur above Les Baux-de-Provence, this ruined hilltop fortress has overlooked the valley since the 11th century. Once the stronghold of the powerful lords of Baux, it endured the medieval wars of Provence before falling into disrepair.
No. 2
Palais du Pharo
Marseille 7e Arrondissement
The Pharo palace overlooks the entrance to Marseille's Old Port, built on a headland given to Napoleon III for a residence intended for Empress Eugénie. Begun in 1858, the building was never actually lived in by the imperial couple and later served as a hospital before becoming a municipal reception venue.
No. 3
Bastide la Torse dite aussi château de la Torse
Aix-en-Provence
Along the road to Le Tholonet, on the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence, the Torse bastide shows the understated elegance typical of 18th-century country houses in Provence.
.jpg/960px-Honor%C3%A9_Boyer_de_Fonscolombe_(1683-1756).jpg)
No. 4
Château de Fonscolombe (Fonscolombe Castle)
Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade
The Château de Fonscolombe stands in Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, in the Bouches-du-Rhône region, built in the 1730s for Honoré Boyer, a parliamentarian from Aix. The estate underwent alterations in the mid-19th century following an earthquake.
No. 5
Château de la Pioline (Pioline Castle)
Aix-en-Provence
In Aix-en-Provence, the château de la Pioline stands on the site of a 14th-century mill turned into a seigneurial residence. Its façades reflect successive alterations, from Renaud de Piolenc's work in the 17th century to the wings and courtyard added in the 18th century by the marquis de Meyronnet.
No. 6
Château Pastré (Pastré Castle)
Marseille
Château Pastré is a 19th-century Provençal bastide located in the southern districts of Marseille, set within a large park known as the Campagne Pastré.
No. 7
Château de Port-Miou (Port-Miou Castle)
Cassis
The château de Port-Miou stands at the edge of the calanque of the same name, just outside Cassis, between the two banks lined with the marina's pontoons. This small building was originally erected to house workers from the old limestone quarries, before becoming the harbour master's office.
No. 8
Château de Châteaurenard (châteaurenard Castle)
Châteaurenard
On the Griffon hill south of Avignon, the ruins of Châteaurenard castle overlook the town and surrounding plain. Only two towers survive from this medieval stronghold, one of them broken in half, along with a stretch of rampart wall.
No. 9
Domain of the castle of Avignon
Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
In the Camargue, in the town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the château d'Avignon stands on an estate that originated as an 18th-century farmhouse.
No. 10
Château of Vauvenargues
Vauvenargues
Set at the foot of the northern slope of the Sainte-Victoire mountain, this Provençal fortified manor combines medieval origins with successive alterations carried out up to the 18th century.
Every castle in Bouches-du-Rhône (82)Which ones open this weekend?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most beautiful castle in Bouches-du-Rhône?
- The most visited in Bouches-du-Rhône is Château des Baux, 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 82 castles recorded in Bouches-du-Rhône, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.