The castles near Paris display French history through their architecture, gardens and interiors. These buildings served as residences for kings, emperors and nobles. Each castle presents a distinct period, from medieval fortresses to Renaissance palaces. The collections include furniture, artworks and historical artifacts.
Versailles, France
The palace was built in 1624 as a royal residence. The gardens span 800 hectares featuring fountains and sculptures.
Fontainebleau, France
The palace contains 1500 rooms on 130 hectares of land. French rulers resided here for eight centuries.
Rueil-Malmaison, France
The palace was purchased by Josephine in 1799. It contains a collection of paintings from the Napoleonic period.
Chantilly, France
The palace houses France's second largest art collection. The library contains 60,000 volumes and 1,500 manuscripts.
Vincennes, France
This medieval fortress features a 52-meter-high keep and defensive walls with six towers surrounding the central courtyard.
Villers-Cotterêts, France
King Francis I signed the 1539 ordinance establishing French as the administrative language in this historical building.
Yvelines, France
Architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart designed this structure with a central dome and symmetrical wings.
Maisons-Laffitte, France
François Mansart built this château between 1630 and 1651 in classical French style with precise geometric forms.
Rambouillet, France
This residence has housed French kings, emperors and presidents. The building contains historic state rooms and a collection of royal furniture.
Ménars, France
An 18th century castle with symmetrical architecture and formal gardens. The building is protected as a historical monument.
Ferrières-en-Brie, France
This castle was built in 1855 for the Rothschild family. The architecture combines French and Italian influences of the 19th century.
Meudon, France
The castle was built on a hill and provides views of Paris. The terraces and French garden are part of the estate.
Pierrefonds, France
The 14th-century fortress underwent restoration by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc under Napoleon III orders between 1857 and 1885.
Anet, France
Architect Philibert de l'Orme designed this building in the 16th century as a residence for King Henry II and his mistress.
Blois, France
The palace displays four architectural styles from the 13th to 17th centuries and served as the main residence of several French rulers.
Bussy-le-Grand, France
The castle contains a collection of 500 portraits and murals created by Count of Bussy-Rabutin during his exile in the 17th century.
Treigny, France
An experimental medieval castle construction that began in 1997 using historical tools and building methods.
Chilleurs-aux-Bois, France
The Renaissance castle houses a perfume museum with a collection of historical scents and perfume bottles.
Châtenay-Malabry, France
The castle displays historical tapestries and rooms with fairy tale motifs from Charles Perrault.
Ecouen, France
The museum displays 16th century art collections including furniture, ceramics, enamels and stained glass.
Condé-en-Brie, France
The private noble residence contains a large collection of historical artworks and tapestries from the 17th century.
Chaumont-sur-Loire, France
The 10th-century castle hosts international garden festivals and contemporary art exhibitions.
Vernon, France
The castle combines French and Italian architecture with large water features and garden layouts.
Le Neubourg, France
The castle features baroque architecture with geometric gardens following André Le Nôtre principles.
Les Andelys, France
This medieval fortress ruin from the 12th century stands on a limestone cliff and overlooks the Seine Valley from 90 meters high.
Port-Marly, France
This Renaissance castle was built in 1846 by the author of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' and features a separate Neo-Gothic writing house.
Azay-le-Rideau, France
A 16th-century castle built on an island in the Indre River, combining French and Italian architectural elements.
Cheverny, France
This 17th-century Loire castle contains a collection of historical furniture and tapestries in its 25 accessible rooms.