The 10 most beautiful castles in Charente-Maritime
10 châteaux
Chosen among 107 recorded castles
What to see in Charente-Maritime 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 renown: how often their name is searched on Google each month, and how many reviews visitors have left. “Beautiful” is your word; what we measure is what visitors choose.
No. 1
Château de la Roche Courbon
Saint-Porchaire
In Saint-Porchaire, in the Charente-Maritime department, the château de la Roche-Courbon stands with its 15th-century buildings above moats and terraced grounds. A visit combines the old architecture with well-regarded gardens, whose layout and vistas reward a leisurely pace.
No. 2
Château de Beaulon (Beaulon Castle)
Saint-Dizant-du-Gua
In Saint-Dizant-du-Gua, in the Charente-Maritime region, the château de Beaulon combines late Gothic lines from the end of the 15th century with Renaissance additions made some thirty years later.
No. 3
Château de Crazannes (Crazannes Castle)
Crazannes
In Crazannes, in the Charente-Maritime region, this castle combines eleventh century remains, a keep and a Romanesque chapel, with a flamboyant residence built in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
No. 4
Château de Jonzac (Jonzac Castle)
Jonzac
Jonzac castle stands at the centre of the town that bears its name, in the Charente-Maritime department. Its medieval towers, fortified gatehouse and 16th-century entrance building trace a history going back to the 11th century, and the site today houses the town hall and the sub-prefecture.
No. 5
Château de Panloy (Panloy Castle)
Port-d'Envaux
Standing on the banks of the Charente river at Port-d'Envaux, Panloy castle has stayed in the hands of a single family since it was built in the 17th century, which explains why the rooms open to visitors still hold their original furniture and objects.
Adult €11Hours, prices and access
No. 6
Château de Mornay (Mornay Castle)
Saint-Pierre-de-l'Isle
The château de Mornay stands at the southern end of a broad moated park in the village of Saint-Pierre-de-l'Isle, Charente-Maritime.
No. 7
Château de Dampierre-sur-Boutonne (Dampierre-sur-Boutonne Castle)
Dampierre-sur-Boutonne
Built on two islands of the Boutonne river and reached by a bridge, the château de Dampierre-sur-Boutonne is known for its Renaissance gallery with two superimposed levels, decorated with carved coffered ceilings full of emblematic and alchemical imagery.
Adult €10Hours, prices and access
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No. 8
Chateau de Mirambeau
Mirambeau
Château de Mirambeau stands on a hillside in northern Charente-Maritime, between Bordeaux and Cognac. An 11th-century fortified building once occupied the site, changing hands repeatedly before the present north wing was raised in 1570 in a neo-gothic style.
No. 9
Domaine de la Pommeraie
Périgny
domaine de la Pommeraie, in Périgny (Charente-Maritime), France. Location, access and practical information.
No. 10
Domaine de Beaulieu
Germignac
The Beaulieu estate in Germignac is built around a manor house dating mainly from the 17th century, together with former farm buildings that once housed a distillery, sheds and a bakehouse.
Free entryHours, prices and access
Every castle in Charente-Maritime (107)Which ones open this weekend?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most beautiful castle in Charente-Maritime?
- The most visited in Charente-Maritime is Château de la Roche Courbon, 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; 1 of these castles are free.
- How is this selection made?
- Among the 107 castles recorded in Charente-Maritime, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.