The 10 most beautiful castles in Puy-de-Dôme
10 châteaux
Chosen among 154 recorded castles
What to see in Puy-de-Dôme 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
Murol Castle
Murol
Perched on a basalt outcrop above the village, Murol castle stands out through the sheer mass of its ruins, shaped by nearly five centuries of alterations from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
Adult €11.20Hours, prices and access
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No. 2
Château Rocher
Saint-Rémy-de-Blot
Perched on a rocky spur above the Sioule river, Château-Rocher has watched over the Menat bridge crossing since the 11th century. Now a medieval ruin, the site still shows its three-stage defensive approach, with towers and an outer wall pierced by a barbican.
No. 3
Château-Dauphin
Pontgibaud
In Pontgibaud, in the Puy-de-Dôme, Château-Dauphin stands with its twin keep on a volcanic lava flow, a remnant of a fortress founded in the late 12th century.
No. 4
Château de Chazeron (Chazeron Castle)
Loubeyrat
Set on a spur overlooking the Limagne plain within the Auvergne volcanoes park, Chazeron castle keeps a medieval keep around which a wing opening onto an esplanade and terraced outbuildings were added in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Adult €10Hours, prices and access
No. 5
Château d'Aulteribe (Aulteribe Castle)
Sermentizon
Set on the lower slopes of the Livradois hills, Aulteribe castle still looks like a 15th century stronghold, though its appearance was reshaped in the 19th century in a romantic style. The de Pierre family, who owned it until 1954, filled it with art and furniture collections later bequeathed to the state.
Adult €7Hours, prices and access
No. 6
Château de Parentignat (Parentignat Castle)
Parentignat
At Parentignat, a few kilometres from Issoire, an 18th-century château has kept its original furnishings and houses the collection of French paintings assembled by art historian Georges de Lastic.
Adult €12Hours, prices and access
No. 7
Château de Tournoël (Tournoël Castle)
Volvic
Perched on a volcanic spur above the Limagne plain, Tournoël castle preserves the remains of a medieval stronghold once fought over by the counts of Auvergne and the French crown. Its siege in 1213, led by the forces of Philip Augustus, marked the annexation of most of the county of Auvergne into the royal domain.
Adult €10Hours, prices and access
No. 8
Château de Busséol (Busséol Castle)
Busséol
Standing on a volcanic dyke at nearly 700 metres above sea level, Busséol castle overlooks the Limagne plain and dates back to the 12th century.
Adult €9Hours, prices and access
No. 9
Château de Montrognon (Montrognon Castle)
Ceyrat
The ruins of Montrognon castle stand on top of a volcanic hill above Ceyrat, in the Puy-de-Dôme department. Built at the end of the 12th century by the Montrognon de Salvert family, only scattered remains survive today, including a round tower that once formed the keep.
No. 10
Château de Villeneuve-Lembron (Villeneuve-Lembron Castle)
Villeneuve
Built at the end of the 15th century by Rigaud d'Aureille, steward to Louis XI, the château de Villeneuve-Lembron has a square plan flanked by four round towers and surrounded by moats. Under Louis XIII its windows were enlarged to bring in more light and comfort, giving this pleasure residence its present appearance.
Adult €7Hours, prices and access
Every castle in Puy-de-Dôme (154)Which ones open this weekend?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most beautiful castle in Puy-de-Dôme?
- The most visited in Puy-de-Dôme is Murol Castle, 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 154 castles recorded in Puy-de-Dôme, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.