The 10 most beautiful castles in Loiret
10 châteaux
Chosen among 153 recorded castles
What to see in Loiret 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 Ferté (La Ferté-Saint-Aubin)
La Ferté-Saint-Aubin
Surrounded by moats fed by the Cosson river, the château de La Ferté-Saint-Aubin stands at the northern edge of the town, in the Sologne region. Its construction began in the late 16th century for the Saint-Nectaire family, under architect Théodore Lefebvre, and continued through the 17th century.
No. 2
Château de Sully-sur-Loire (Sully-sur-Loire Castle)
Sully-sur-Loire
Standing on the banks of the Loire, this fortified castle begun in 1395 still shows its medieval keep surrounded by moats fed by the Sange river.
Adult €10Hours, prices and access
No. 3
Château de Chamerolles (Chamerolles Castle)
Chilleurs-aux-Bois
At the edge of the Orléans forest, in Chilleurs-aux-Bois, this early 16th century château keeps the layout of a transitional stronghold, trapezoid enclosure, water filled moats, round towers at each corner, while already opening onto Renaissance living.
Adult €10Hours, prices and access
No. 4
Château de La Bussière (Bussière Castle)
La Bussière
In the Loiret department, on the Jacques Coeur route, La Bussière castle combines the remains of a 16th century entrance tower with alterations carried out right up to the 19th century.
Adult €8.50Hours, prices and access
No. 5
Château de Beaugency (Beaugency Castle)
Beaugency
Standing on the banks of the Loire between Orléans and Blois, the château de Beaugency occupies a fortified site dating back to the 11th century.
Adult €14.50Hours, prices and accessTickets and guided tours
No. 6
Château d'Augerville (Augerville Castle)
Augerville-la-Rivière
In the Loiret department, the château d'Augerville stands on a site fortified since the Middle Ages, still ringed by its original moat. The four corner towers recall the time of Jacques Cœur, treasurer to King Charles VII, who bought the ruined property in the mid 15th century.
No. 7
Château de la Ferté (Ferté Castle)
La Ferté-Saint-Aubin
Château de la Ferté-Saint-Aubin developed progressively from the late 16th century through the 17th century, designed according to plans by Théodore Lefebvre. Its wings frame a courtyard where four bridges cross the moat to reach the main residence.
No. 8
Castle of Meung-sur-Loire
Meung-sur-Loire
Standing at the heart of Meung-sur-Loire, this castle combines the remains of a 12th-century fortress with a classical residence reshaped by the bishops of Orléans in the 18th century.
Adult €13.50Hours, prices and accessTickets and guided tours
No. 9
Château de Gien (Gien Castle)
Gien
The château de Gien stands in the town that shares its name, in the Loiret department. Its construction dates back to the 15th century, a formative period for castle architecture in the Loire Valley. The building is now protected as a historic monument, reflecting its long-recognized heritage value.
No. 10
Château de la Forêt (Forêt Castle)
Montcresson
In Montcresson, near the Loing river, the château de la Forêt stands on a wooded site where a building already existed in the time of Saint Louis. Rebuilt around 1600 on the ruins of an earlier hunting lodge, it retains from that period a long single storey wing topped by a tall roof pierced with brick dormers.
Every castle in Loiret (153)Which ones open this weekend?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most beautiful castle in Loiret?
- The most visited in Loiret is Château de la Ferté (La Ferté-Saint-Aubin), 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 153 castles recorded in Loiret, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.