Removals to France - A Guide to Some of the Most Beautiful French Châteaux

With your removals to France in the offing, whether it’s take up a new French job role, to be closer to family and friends or even to retire, you will doubtless be looking forward to many things about your move. The world renowned cuisine, fine wines, good weather (mostly), tuneful accents,  delightful scenery, ancient  monuments and the magnificent châteaux are just some of the things that the country has to offer.

In this article, we would like to assist you in locating and enjoying some of the most beautiful châteaux in France so that wherever your removals to France may take you, to the north, south, east or west of the country, you'll know where to head for to view some of the most historic and significant buildings in France.

Hamiltons Removals was established in 1993 and has been providing first class, bespoke removals services to destinations throughout the UK and Europe including removals to France ever since. Our team of time-served removals experts are on hand to assist you in every aspect of your house move from the wrapping, packing and safe transportation of your belongings to their unpacking and installation.

We also offer a professional house cleaning service to save you the time and trouble.

Here we take a glimpse at some of the best and most picturesque châteaux in France. There are literally hundreds to choose from so it is impossible to mention them all, but here’s our pick of the bunch. Enjoy!

Removals to France – click here to find out more about our removals to France service.

Ten Remarkable Castles in France

Versailles

Versailles is a former royal palace in the Ile de France region of France. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is recognised as one of the most beautiful achievements in 18th century French art.  The Château de Versailles earns its keep today as the Museum of  French History and as such, is filled with masterpieces from the paintings of Charles Le Brun to the furnishings of the court of Louis XIV. The gardens are a joy here too; created by André Le Nôtre, they are a feast of fountains, sculpture, lawns and flowers.

Chambord

The largest château in the Loire Valley and arguably the most enchanting in all of France, Chateau de Chambord is reputed to be the inspiration behind the castle in Walt Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Its design is a combination of the majestic and the magical. With more than 400 rooms, 350 fireplaces and 80 staircases, the sheer size of the place beggars belief. It would take days - weeks even - to familiarise yourselves with it. Luckily an English speaking guided tour is available so you don’t miss any of the best bits.

Mont St Michel

Mont Saint-Michel is a small rocky island off the north-western coast of France. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is visited by more than three million people a year and yet, as of the last census, only has 44 inhabitants. Among the many attractions on the island are: the Benedictine Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel; La Chapelle-Saint-Aubert which is a lovely addition to the abbey; Tour Gabriel, which looks great at low tide, and Eglise St-Maclou which is well worth the climb.

Château Bonaguil

The Château de Bonaguil, Fumel, in south-western France is one of the best preserved of its kind in the region. You are invited to wander around the castle to your heart's content and there is a guide written in English help you navigate the site. A numbering system corresponds  with the guide, which provides information to help you get the most from your experience and learn as much as possible about life, not just within the walls of the château, but in the Bastide as a whole.

Château Baynac

Described as atmospheric, almost spooky, wandering around Château Baynac is like stepping back in time. It is a proper purpose-built fortress;  there are nofairytale towers or spires here, instead the architecture is almost brutal and with good reason as it had a very specific military task to perform. Its commanding position, high above the Dordogne River made it an important stronghold and one that was much prized among crusaders like Richard the Lionheart. Bring your camera as the views, as you can imagine, are spectacular.

The Château de Vincennes

Vincennes is one of the largest and most well preserved castles in the whole of Europe. Dating back to the 12th Century, it has played an important role in French history and has borne the scars to prove it. Home to kings, armies and prisoners, there is a wealth of history contained within its walls and a great deal to see and learn about. Since the German soldiers departed after WWII, having inflicted considerable damage on the castle, it has become the subject of a huge and sympathetic restoration programme.

Palace of the Popes

The largest and most important Gothic building in Europe and a UNESCO world heritage site, the Popes' Palace in Avignon dominates the skyline.  It features not-to-be-missed monuments like the Saint Bénezet Bridge (aka Le Pont d’Avignon which has a song of this name), the Ramparts, the Petit Palais and the cathedral. There are over 20 rooms with virtually year round displays featuring historic scenes and frescoes, and it stages a number of popular theatrical events and art exhibitions throughout the year.

Château d'Ussé

The inspiration behind Sleeping Beauty, this is a must see for your little prince and princess. The story is brought to life through piped music and mannequins in fancy dress, so the kids will love it. From the outside, the château is exactly what you'd expect: all spires, high towers and small darkened windows. It is quite magical looking and inside they have continued the theme. It might feel a little too touristy and some would say priced accordingly, but it’s definitely worth a look if only to keep the little darlings quiet for a while.

Château Fontainebleau

This is a chateau on a grand scale. Kings and Queens have lived here and the majesty of the building and its grounds reflect that. Now housing four museums, three galleries and a theatre, this is a truly interactive visit and a must see. Exhibitions, theatre and operatic performances are often staged here and are well patronized. Family visits are encouraged, as are school trips, and the children will not tire of the interactive displays, learning and entertainments on offer.

Château de Valencay

Dating back to the time of Louis XIII, the chateau, which was bought by Napoleon for his Foreign Affairs Minister to show off to visiting dignitaries, represents a wonderful combination of both the Renaissance and Classical styles. Surrounded by pretty French gardens and set in an English landscaped park, the chateau and its grounds boast an active social calendar hosting such things as candlelight processions,  concerts, and plays. Fine decoration and furnishings complete this most stately of homes.

About Hamiltons

At Hamiltons Removals we offer Full Container Load (FCL), Part Container Load (LCL), or Groupage removals as part of our removals to France service, but we are also able to transport, single, large and valuable items like motorcars, pianos and horses. Our removals experts are well used to handling all kinds of items and we only use qualified equestrians  when loading and transporting horses. . Call, email or follow the link below for an instant quotation or to speak to one of our highly trained removals operatives. We will be delighted to help.

Removals to France – click here to find out more about our removals to France service or click here for a free European removals quote.