La Communaute Les Chateaux en France

Large stone castles were built in Europe from about the 1100’s to about the 1500’s. These huge buildings served not only to defend the country from foreign invaders but as the basic tool in preserving the king’s and the nobles’ power over the land. The social system was very rigid in the Middle Ages.

A castle was both a fortress and a residence for the lord and his family. Castles were usually on high ground, which was generally not flat, and there were differing risks of attack from different directions.

Castles were often not symmetrical, because they were built according to an individual landscape, and the specific needs of the time. Each castle was arranged differently, and not all parts stayed as they were originally built. Successive lords, who might want more room, or a more impressive sight, added rooms, walls or towers, as they saw fit.

Fontainebleau Once, Fontainbleau had the noblest garden in France. It was made for a king, Francois I, who wished to rival the great courts of Italy. Though the old knots and statuary have gone, enough of the layout survives to give one a sense of how gardens were arranged in sixteenth century France.

Chateau Gaillard Constructed in little more than 12 months by Richard I of England built to deter King Philip Augustus of France from invading Richard’s Norman territories. The stronghold was placed along the Seine River on a cliff extending above the towns of Grand and Petit Andelys. Built such that an invading army could only assault it from one direction, from the strip of land linking the rocky spur to the plateau beyond.

Chateau de Martainville Brick-built castle and stone of Renaissance style in Upper Normandy.

Chateau Chambord The largest chateau in France 400 rooms and 365 chimneys. King François I built Chambord Castle in France as a hunting lodge and spent less than eight weeks here his entire reign, but he spared no expense in its construction. Building began in 1519 and employed 1,800 workers. was never intended as a defensive structure; design focused on beauty. Visitors can explore through 3,000 acres of the 13,000 acre forest

Angers Angers fortress built by Famous King St Louis in 13C,with 17 round towers made of dark schist and white stone,houses the oldest and largest tapestry in the world : The Apocalypse Tapestry....

Brissac Brissac is nicknamed the "Giant of the Loire Valley" : with its seven stories it is taller than all the Royal Castles of Loire Valley. Brissac, unusual castle...from the 15C fortress remains only two towers juxtaposed to the 17C unfinished castle which was intended to replace the older one

Chinon Chinon is a huge fortress (1300 feet x 230), originally a Roman camp. In 11 C, Henry Plantagenet built most of the castle...After he became King of England, Chinon was his favorite residence in his possessions on this side of the Channel. In 1429, the young Joan of Arc recognized the King of France among 300 courtiers and told him she was a "Messenger of God"...and the king believed in the courageous girl's mission to defeat the English forces.....

Azay-le-Rideau Azay-le-Rideau is a small castle, charming and romantic. It is located in the Loire Valley, 15 miles southwest of Tours (and about 150 miles southwest of Paris). The strangely named castle of Azay-le-Rideau ("Azay-the-Curtain") represents one of the most successful examples of Italianate architecture in the Touraine region. Its unrivaled elegance and the richness of its furniture alone are worth the visit.

Cheverny Cheverny Castle is said to have invented the French Style in Chateau de Cheverny’s design was inspired by the Luxembourg Palace in Paris Splendid castle of the 17th century, and well furnished (masterpieces of Le Titien, Clouet, Raphael and Rigaud) Cheverny is the biggest private Loire Valley castle still occupied by a family.

Avignon A heavily fortified palace was built in the 14th century when the Popes, exiled from Italy, went into exile in France. The castle's architecture is a balance of asymmetrical, yet ordered buildings, and is a blend of French and Italian styles. Ornate gargoyles penetrate from the exterior of the castle walls.

Mont Saint Michel One of the most picturesque castles in France, and perhaps all of Europe, this stronghold is a city unto itself, built in the Saint-Michel bay. Tides would bring in a daily barrier of water between the castle and the mainland. In 966 the Duke of Normandy founded a Benedictine abbey here. This site was changed throughout the following centuries to include a Carolingian church, one of Romanesque style and finally with the massive Gothic complex that exists today. This medieval fortress survived many sieges and has been restored after fires swept through the complex on several occasions.

Vincennes This spacious medieval castle consists primarily of a strong keep with rounded tower corners, surrounded by a thick perimeter wall. Built in the 14th century, it was a residence for French kings. Its design is based on strict mathematics giving it near perfect symmetry. Renovations and exposure to weather have given this castle's donjon somewhat of a checkerboard appearance.

Versailles The Palace of Versailles was the official residence of the Kings of France from 1682 until It was originally a hunting lodge, built in 1624, by Louis XIII. It was expanded by Louis XIV beginning in 1669.

Chenonceau Château des Dames as recorded in the French history books, Chenonceau owes a large part of its charm to women: it was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, then made even more attractive by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, and saved from the rigours of the French Revolution by Mrs Dupin. Chenonceau is not only remarkable for its architecture and history but also for the fine quality of its collections as can be seen from the inside visit: Renaissance furniture, a vast ensemble of XVI th and XVII th centuries tapestries and a great number of masterpieces.

* Which is your favorite castle and why?