The 10 most beautiful castles in Hauts-de-France
10 châteaux
Chosen among 589 recorded castles
What to see in Hauts-de-France 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 de Chantilly (Chantilly Castle)
Chantilly
Chantilly castle actually combines two separate buildings: the small château built around 1560 by Jean Bullant for Constable Anne de Montmorency, and the large château rebuilt at the end of the 19th century by Honoré Daumet after the original was destroyed during the Revolution.
No. 2
Castle of Pierrefonds
Pierrefonds
Pierrefonds Castle stands in the Oise department, a stone silhouette rebuilt in the 19th century on the remains of a medieval fortress. Architect Viollet-le-Duc gave it his own interpretation of a fortified castle, combining towers, curtain walls and carved decoration.
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No. 3
Dampierre Castle
Anzin
In Anzin, the Dampierre château recalls a lesser-known chapter of the mining history of northern France: it was built in the late 19th century by the Compagnie des mines d'Anzin to house its company directors.
No. 4
Hardelot Castle
Condette
In Condette, in the Pas-de-Calais region, Hardelot castle stands on a hill overlooking the lac des miroirs and the surrounding marshland.
Adult €5Hours, prices and access
No. 5
Château de Compiègne (Compiègne Castle)
Compiègne
The château de Compiègne stands on the site of royal residences dating back to Merovingian times, though the building visitors see today was mainly constructed under Louis XV and continued under Louis XVI.
No. 6
Palais Rihour
Lille
On place Rihour, in the centre of Lille, a few Gothic remnants recall the palace built in the 15th century for the Dukes of Burgundy. Repeated fires and demolitions, the last in 1916, left standing only the guards' hall, the chapel turned conclave room, and a grand staircase moved stone by stone.
No. 7
Castle of Ermenonville
Ermenonville
Built on the remains of a Carolingian villa, the present château dates from the 18th century, remodelled under Claude-Louis Lombard and later shaped by the marquis René-Louis de Girardin.
No. 8
Château de Rambures (Rambures Castle)
Rambures
Rambures castle raises its eight brick and stone towers south of Abbeville, in the Somme department. Built in the 15th century, it is one of the few medieval castles still standing in the region, spared from the 17th century demolitions in gratitude for a service rendered to King Henri IV.
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No. 9
Château de la Reine Blanche (Reine Blanche Castle)
Coye-la-Forêt
In Coye-la-Forêt, on the edge of the Chantilly forest, this small medieval building had an eventful history before becoming, in the early 19th century, one of the earliest examples of the neo-Gothic revival in France.
No. 10
Château de Montvillargenne (Montvillargenne Castle)
Gouvieux
In Gouvieux, close to Chantilly, the Château de Montvillargenne was built in the early twentieth century for Jeanne de Rothschild, in an eclectic style featuring Normandy-inspired half-timbering.
Every castle in Hauts-de-France (589)
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most beautiful castle in Hauts-de-France?
- The most visited in Hauts-de-France is Château de Chantilly, 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 589 castles recorded in Hauts-de-France, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.