The 10 most beautiful castles in Vendée
10 châteaux
Chosen among 101 recorded castles
What to see in Vendée 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 du Puy-du-Fou
Les Epesses
The Château du Puy-du-Fou, in Les Epesses, Vendée, combines the remains of a medieval fortress with an unfinished Renaissance wing.
No. 2
Château de Noirmoutier (Noirmoutier Castle)
Noirmoutier-en-l'Île
On the island of Noirmoutier, this 11th-century fortress overlooks the town of Noirmoutier-en-l'Île from its keep, which rises to nearly 20 metres. Together with the neighbouring church, it is the only surviving trace of the island's former abbey.
No. 3
Château de Tiffauges (Tiffauges Castle)
Tiffauges
The ruined castle of Tiffauges stands on a rocky spur above the Crûme river, on the old borders of Anjou, Brittany and Poitou.
No. 4
Château de la Chabotterie
Montréverd
The logis de la Chabotterie stands in Montréverd, in the Vendée region, on the grounds where Vendée general Charette was captured in March 1796. This Bas-Poitou manor house, with roots going back to the 14th century, retains its courtyard of honour, its entrance postern and its north pavilion flanked by corner towers.
No. 5
Château de Commequiers (Commequiers Castle)
Commequiers
In Commequiers, Vendée, the ruins of a former stronghold rise from a stretch of water that surrounds them almost entirely. The site was first mentioned in the 11th century, though what remains today reflects work carried out in the 15th century.
No. 6
Château de Talmont
Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
Perched on a rocky spur above Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, this ruined medieval castle bears the marks of nearly six centuries of successive building work, from a keep born out of an old church bell tower to defensive additions made during the Renaissance.
No. 7
La Garenne Lemot
Cugand-la-Bernardière
Overlooking the Sèvre Nantaise river, the Garenne Lemot estate spans thirteen hectares across the border of Loire-Atlantique and Vendée.
No. 8
Château d'Apremont (Apremont Castle)
Apremont
Perched on a rocky spur above the Vie valley, the ruins of Apremont castle combine remains of a medieval stronghold with what is left of one of the earliest Renaissance residences in the Vendée region.
No. 9
Château de la Flocellière (Flocellière Castle)
Sèvremont
In Sèvremont, in the Vendée, the château de la Flocellière combines the remains of a medieval fortress with a residence remodelled in the 19th century.
No. 10
Castle of Terre Neuve
Fontenay-le-Comte
In Fontenay-le-Comte, the Terre Neuve château was built at the end of the 16th century for Nicolas Rapin, a companion of Henri IV and a man of letters.
Adult €10.50Hours, prices and access
Every castle in Vendée (101)Which ones open this weekend?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most beautiful castle in Vendée?
- The most visited in Vendée is Château du Puy-du-Fou, 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 101 castles recorded in Vendée, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.