With more than 4 million visitors each year, Carcassonne is among the most prestigious tourist destinations in France, on a par with Mont-Saint-Michel and Paris’ Notre-Dame. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, Carcassonne is a dramatic representation of medieval architecture perched on a rocky spur that towers above the River Aude, southeast of the new town.
Peyrepertuse (Languedoc)
Peyrepertuse is one of the famous Cathar castles, located in the Corbieres region of the Aude departement. Perched on a crest at 2,400 feet high, its strategic position made it an important and coveted fortress along the former French/Spanish border.
Bonaguil (Perigord)
Located on a rocky spur between the valleys of the Theze and Lemance Rivers to the far south of the Dordogne department, the military fortress of Bonaguil was the last of the fortified castles built in France. Bonaguil was entirely refurbished between 1480 and 1510 to incorporate the latest defensive systems of the late Middle-Ages. For this reason, it was never attacked and was only ever used as a residence by its owners.
The most visited castle in the South of France dominates the picturesque village of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle on the left bank of the Dordogne River. During the Middle-Ages, this mighty English fortress commanded the strategic position at the confluence of the Dordogne and Céou Rivers, opposite the rival French castle of Beynac.
Pierrefonds (Picardy)
The imposing castle of Pierrefonds, located 80 km to the north-east of Paris, sits enchantingly around a bend in the road beside the Compiegne Forest. Built in the 12th century, the castle was destroyed in the 17th century then completely restored by the architect Viollet-le-Duc under the direction of Napoleon III. This unusual reconstruction, often criticized, resulted in a grandiose architectural ensemble, making Pierrefonds a medieval as well as a modern 19th century castle. For this, Pierrefonds is known as “the romantic folly of the Emperor”.
In the heart of Burgundy, Guedelon is not a historic castle as such for it is more like an open history book. When construction started in 1997, the long-term goal was to build a fortified castle by using techniques and materials from the Middle Ages. The project has proved a success, as it has created 55 jobs and welcomed more than 300,000 visitors each year. Guedelon should be completed in 2022 and will then look like a 13th century medieval castle.
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