Find a château to suit the day

With children, with a dog, in a wheelchair, for free, or to stay the night. Each list starts from what we have checked, not from what is claimed.

• The most visited châteaux in FranceThe ones everyone knows, ranked by actual footfall. Expect crowds in July and August, and check the hours before you set off.911 castles
• Châteaux listed as historic monumentsThe highest level of protection in French heritage law. Every entry links to its official record in the Mérimée database.2,008 castles
• Châteaux to visit with childrenThose that lay on something for them: adapted trails, workshops, room to run. The information comes from the château's own site, not from a guess.429 castles
• Châteaux where dogs are welcomeIn the grounds, on a lead, sometimes indoors. We say which of the three: it is rarely written anywhere else, and it decides a whole weekend.206 castles
• Wheelchair-accessible châteauxFull visit or ground floor only: we distinguish the two, and we quote the detail the château gives.152 castles
• Free châteaux: free entry all year round, not only on Heritage DaysFree admission all year, verified on the official site. The grounds are sometimes free when the interior is not: the entry says so.106 castles
• Châteaux you can sleep inGuest rooms, hotels and cottages set within the walls. Sleeping in a château often costs less than you would think.753 castles
• Châteaux with a restaurantFrom the courtyard café to the fine-dining room. Useful when the visit falls at midday and the nearest village is twenty minutes away.655 castles