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Chateaupedia

Renaissance châteaux

3,984 châteaux listed · verified entries first, then the most searched-for; alphabetical index at the bottom of the page

The 16th and 17th centuries, when the fortress became a residence: ceremonial staircases, designed gardens, façades opened onto the landscape.

We record 3,984 castles, manor houses and strongholds from the Renaissance, spread across 3,539 towns and villages.

724 of them receive visitors, according to their official website or their business listing. We have checked the opening hours of 589 and the prices of 377 of them, and each entry shows the date of that check. 1,044 of them are listed historic monuments, the highest level of protection in French heritage law. The dominant period is the Renaissance, with 3,984 buildings.

The most visited, with 372,801 reviews, is Louvre Palace (1er arrondissement de Paris).

This page lists the 400 most visited châteaux out of 3,984. Department by department, the list is complete.

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The full list for this department, for when you already know the name.

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Frequently asked

How many châteaux from the Renaissance can you visit?
We record 3,984 châteaux from the Renaissance, across 3,539 towns and villages. Not all are open: many are private properties we list for their heritage interest, and the entry says so when we know.
Which is the most visited château from the Renaissance?
Palais du Louvre, in 1er arrondissement de Paris, with 372,801 visitor reviews. Actual footfall is the measure, not an editorial ranking.
How many châteaux from the Renaissance are listed historic monuments?
1,044 out of 3,984. Listing is the highest level of protection in French heritage law; every entry links to its official record in the Mérimée database.
Where can I find opening hours?
On each entry. We know the hours of 589 châteaux in this list, read from their official website or their business listing, with the date we last checked shown.

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