The 10 most beautiful castles in Cher
10 châteaux
Chosen among 110 recorded castles
What to see in Cher 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 d'Ainay-le-Vieil
Ainay-le-Vieil
In the heart of the Berry region, the château of Ainay-le-Vieil presents an eight-sided fortified enclosure built around 1330-1340 for Jean de Sully, whose circular layout earned it the nickname 'little Carcassonne'.
Adult €13Hours, prices and access
.jpg/960px-Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Meillant_(1503).jpg)
No. 2
Château de Meillant (Meillant Castle)
Meillant
In Meillant, in the Cher department, stands a château whose façades trace nearly six centuries of architectural history, from medieval fortress to flamboyant Gothic ornament.
No. 3
Château des Stuarts (Stuarts Castle)
Aubigny-sur-Nère
Located in Aubigny-sur-Nère, this brick and stone castle takes its name from the Stuart family of Aubigny, who had it built in the early 16th century following a fire that had destroyed much of the town.
Adult €5Hours, prices and access
No. 4
Château de Sagonne (Sagonne Castle)
Sagonne
At the heart of the village of Sagonne, in the Cher department, stands a fortress dating from the 14th century, built by the house of Sancerre to watch over the road between Bourges and Sancoins.
Adult €10Hours, prices and access
No. 5
Château de Mehun-sur-Yèvre (Mehun-sur-Yèvre Castle)
Mehun-sur-Yèvre
Perched on a rocky spur above the meeting point of the Yèvre and Annain rivers, the ruins of Mehun-sur-Yèvre castle recall a medieval stronghold later turned, under Jean de Berry, into one of the most refined residences of its age.
No. 6
Château de Lazenay (Lazenay Castle)
Bourges
Château de Lazenay, in Bourges (Cher), France. Location, access and practical information.
No. 7
Château féodal de Sancerre
Sancerre
The feudal castle of Sancerre once stood atop a hill overlooking the Loire valley, home to the powerful counts of Sancerre from the 11th to the 15th century. Torn down in 1621, only a cylindrical keep from the late 14th century remains, known as the tour des Fiefs, the sole tangible trace of the medieval stronghold.
No. 8
Château de Blancafort (Blancafort Castle)
Blancafort
At the heart of the village of Blancafort, in the Pays-Fort area of Berry, stands a brick château built in the second half of the 15th century for the Boucard family.
Adult €12Hours, prices and access
No. 9
Château de Bannegon (Bannegon Castle)
Bannegon
At the border between the Berry and Bourbonnais regions, the château de Bannegon raises its drawbridge keep on the banks of the Auron river, ringed by moats fed by the river itself.
No. 10
Château du Plaix (Plaix Castle)
Saint-Hilaire-en-Lignières
The château du Plaix stands in Saint-Hilaire-en-Lignières, in the Cher department, right along the Arnon river which runs past its eastern side. Dating from the 15th century, the building is now listed as a historic monument. Its riverside setting remains one of the site's notable features for visitors.
Every castle in Cher (110)Which ones open this weekend?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most beautiful castle in Cher?
- The most visited in Cher is Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil, 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 110 castles recorded in Cher, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.