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The 10 most beautiful castles in Puy-de-Dôme
10 châteaux
Chosen among 148 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 attendance, from the number of Google reviews. “Beautiful” is your word; what we measure is what visitors choose.
No. 1
Château Rocher
Saint-Rémy-de-Blot
Château Rocher, in Saint-Rémy-de-Blot (Puy-de-Dôme), France. Location, access and practical information.
No. 2
Donjon de Montpeyroux
Montpeyroux
At the top of the hillside village of Montpeyroux, in the Puy-de-Dôme, a 12th-century keep still stands above the roofs of golden stone.
No. 3
Château de la Bâtisse (Bâtisse Castle)
Chanonat
In Chanonat, in the Puy-de-Dôme, the Château de la Bâtisse still shows the outline of a 13th-century watchtower, later enlarged into a proper fortified castle before being turned into a pleasure residence.
No. 4
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. 5
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. 6
Château d'Effiat (Effiat Castle)
Effiat
Set in the Limagne plain, this 17th-century château still bears the trace of an oversized ambition: Antoine Coëffier de Ruzé, a marshal of France and close ally of Richelieu, once envisioned a planned new town here, laid out by his master's own architects.
No. 7
Château du Marchidial (Marchidial Castle)
Champeix
Perched on a rocky spur above Champeix, the Marchidial castle survives only as ruins, set within gardens restored by local volunteers.
No. 8
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. 9
Château d'Opme (Opme Castle)
Romagnat
Opme Castle stands in the commune of Romagnat, in the Puy-de-Dôme, on a site that once guarded the passage between Clermont and Le Puy.
Adult €8Hours, prices and access
No. 10
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.
Every castle in Puy-de-Dôme (148)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 Château Rocher, 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 148 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.