Ten of the Most Enchanting French Châteaux to Visit with European Waterways

Château de Fontainebleau

If you are aboard hotel barge Renaissance on an Upper Loire and Western Burgundy cruise, you will get to visit the Châteaux de Fontainebleau, one of the largest royal French Châteaux, located just 30 miles southeast of Paris. This colossal palace, which dates back more than 800 years, has some 1,500 rooms and has been the residence of French monarchs from Louis VII to Napoleon III.

Architecturally, this château exhibits elements ranging from a 12th century medieval keep to late Renaissance paintings, and Second Empire interior decoration. Inside, you will be stunned by the opulent décor in each lavishly decorated apartment – a building truly fit for a king!

Château de Ratilly

Château de Ratilly is the personification of adapting and moving with the times. It was once an imposing medieval fortress that transformed itself into a Renaissance château and then on to a modern day pottery artist’s workshop. This château has witnessed war and peace through its long history. It has passed through many hands, most recently being purchased by Jeanne and Norbert Pierlot in 1951.

The Pierlot’s decided to open their château as a cultural centre, offering pottery classes, as well as concerts, shows and art exhibitions of contemporary artists. Join our flagship hotel barge Renaissance along the upper reaches of the Loire and Western Burgundy, and you will enjoy your own pottery session at this very French château.

Château de Bazoches

In Burgundy, aboard L’Art de Vivre, you will be treated to a visit to this feudal French château which dates back to 1180. With its four cylindrical towers and keep surrounding a central courtyard, Château de Bazoches has a definite fortified look and feel.

Inside, in contrast you will find a much softer environment of elegant salons, beautiful wood-panelled libraries, elaborately painted ceilings and fine furniture. The château’s most famous resident was Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, a Marshal of France and a famous military engineer in his day. Vauban acquired Château de Bazoches in 1675, and his ancestors still own this historical and architectural gem today.

Château de Chenonceau

Appropriately enough for a river cruise, the exterior of the Château de Chenonceau is best viewed from the water. That’s because this magnificent 16th century structure is built to span the River Cher, with one long gallery of the château arching gracefully from bank to bank. Amazingly, our hotel barge Nymphea actually cruises under one of the arches of this gallery, and is the only boat permitted to cruise the River Cher due to its flat bottom!

Classified as a historic monument since 1840, Chenonceau is the second-most visited French château surpassed only by Versailles. Inside, don’t miss the exceptional collection of Old Masters paintings featuring works by Poussin, Murillo, Rubens, Van Loo, and others. Outdoors, discover the gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. There is even a circular hedge maze, as well as a restored 16th century farm. This château is particularly famous for its flower garden, filled with enough blooms to keep up the châteaux formidable floral arrangement requirements.

Château de Villandry

This grand structure in the Loire Valley is really a tale of two French châteaux. When Jean Le Breton, France’s Controller-General for War under King Francis I, acquired the estate in the 16th century, it was a medieval fortress. Le Breton launched a massive renovation campaign constructing a Renaissance château around the original 14th century keep.

Inside, you will find a bright and elegant space that feels as homely as such a grand building can be. But the most famous attraction at Château de Villandry is the stunning Renaissance gardens. Here you’ll find formal ornamental gardens, precisely trimmed box hedges, graceful ponds, and fountains. Even the kitchen gardens are laid out with exacting artistry using different coloured vegetables and flowers to create an intriguing, geometric display.

Enjoy the wonders of the River Cher aboard hotel barge Nymphea for an unforgettable visit of the Château de Villandry and the Loire Valley.

Château de Germolles

Southern Burgundy plays host to many enchanting French châteaux, and the Château de Germolles is one of the most interesting. It’s a uniquely surviving example of a residence belonging to one of the Dukes of Burgundy. In the 14th century, Duke Philip the Bold gave the château to his wife Margaret III of Flanders who then proceeded to create a beautiful and luxurious home for herself and children.

The painted wall artwork in the private apartments of Margaret is incredibly rare and special, with visitors able to glimpse first-hand at the style and symbolism of medieval home fashion. A cruise aboard hotel barge Finesse provides a private tour of this château with its current owner, who offers a very personal insight into this truly unique place.

Château Haut-Barr

The ‘Eye of Alsace’, Château Haut-Barr sits on a promontory overlooking the city of Saverne and the plain of Alsace below. With towering rock formations, it is an amazing castle to behold from below. Built during the 12th century, it has continuously transformed from being lived in, to ruined; restored to abandoned, and finally designated and preserved as a historic monument.

The Bishops of Strasbourg made use of it in its first 300 years. After the Thirty Years’ War ended, the castle was torn down as part of the Peace of Westphalia. It was restored at the beginning of the Spanish Succession in 1701. Then it was abandoned in the 1770s. Today you can visit it with us on a cruise aboard hotel barge Panache to enjoy its splendour, history and views between June and October.

Château de Lamotte-Bardigues

Also known as Chateau La Motte, Château de Lamotte-Bardigues, is a beautiful castle with a long though varied family history in the Tarn et Garonne area of France. Originally built in the 14th century by the Goth family, it passed through successive families via marriage, initially with the intent that the Goth name be added to their surnames.

The current château was built on the previous castle’s foundations in 1802 and transitions from the Lussan de Goth name to simply Lussan. From here the châteaucontinues to pass through the family, but via women so the name continues to change, until 1922 to the Labelotterie de Boisséson family name, who are still the current owners today.

Declared a historic monument in 1973, a visit here is to see history in the making. Those onboard our hotel barge Rosa will enjoy a private tour of the apartments and the opportunity to take tea with the resident Countess as she regales you with family stories linked with the Kings of France.

Château de Commarin

In the same family for nearly 900 years, Château Commarin is still lived in by the Count de Vogüé. This family can trace its history right back to the middle ages, through and surviving the French revolution and World War Two, into its present day.

You can visit this chateau whilst on board either La Belle Epoque or L’Impressionniste where you will have the opportunity to meet current owner, Count Bertrand de Vogüé. He will regale you with his history and tales from different generations of his family. A real insight into what it is like to live and look after a château today.

Châteauneuf-en-Auxois

Only eight kilometers from Château Commarin is the Château at Châteauneuf-en-Auxois. Originally owned as a weekend retreat by the Vienne family at Commarin, it has been declared a historic monument and is owned by the regional government who have restored it for visitors, as well as for students learning the history of architecture.

This fairytale castle sits up on a rock promontory, overlooking the valley and Burgundy Canal below. With its towering turrets, it is a truly magical sight. A sight you can enjoy during a visit whilst aboard L’Impressioniste both first-hand as you wander the castle’s rooms, buildings and courtyard, and sat on the deck of your moored barge below, enjoying a glass of Burgundy wine.

Enchanting French Châteaux with European Waterways

Enchanting French châteaux are one of the defining features of rural France. No journey through the countryside would be complete without paying a visit to at least one of these sumptuous and intriguing castles.

Join us on a luxury barge cruise through Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace & Lorraine, or the Loire Valley, and you will have these real châteaux superstars to look forward to!

Order a complimentary copy of our brochure, or talk to a member of our Cruise Team to secure your French château discovery.