Much of Europe has beautiful architecture dating from many historical periods. Much of this is apparent in the many castles throughout Europe including France. France has a large portion of Europe's beautiful castles. Each year many tourists visit the castles of France. Each region has different castles, so it's important for those who would like to see a few of the many castles of France, to know ahead of time which castles are located in the regions of France they are visiting. Below, I've outlined 10 of my personal favorite castles in France as well as a little information about each. Each description features a photo of the castle and a little bit of historical information about each castle. I think that Fougères and Carcassonne are my two favorites on the list. Which castle is your favorite? Is there a castle you would like to see listed?

Château de Chambord is likely the best example of architecture from the French Renaissance. This château, the largest in the Loire Valley, was built for King Francis I to serve as a hunting lodge and so that he could be closer to his mistress. The château consists of a massive keep in the center with four enormous towers at the corners. The castle has 365 fireplaces, 84 staircases, and 440 rooms. The environs of the castle consist of a 13,000 acre wooded park.

Château de Chenonceau, built on the River Cher, was passed through many hands before it was given to the mistress of King Henry II, Diane de Poitiers. Diane de Poitier commissioned the gorgeous bridge that many people find as the most beautiful thing about the castle. This bridge is also the reason why the château exists today as it was set to be destroyed during the French Revolution, but the owner convinced the Revolutionary Guard that is was essential to commerce being the only bridge crossing the River Cher for miles. The bridge also served a major purpose during WWII as it created a way for the French to flee the Nazi occupied side of the river to the free "Vichy" side of the river. The château also served as a hospital for wounded military during WWII.

When the project of building the Palace of Versailles was first started in 1624,  the town of Versailles was a small village. This area is now a wealthy suburb of Paris. The palace started out as a small hunting lodge built for Louis XIII, who later expanded it. His successor, Louis XIV, also had it renovated and expanded causing it to become among the largest palaces of the world. This helped him fulfill his desire of establishing a new center for the royal court. Because of the rich history behind the Versailles, it has come to be a major symbol of French nationality.

Mont-Saint-Michel, constructed during the 8th century, is located on a rocky island off the north coast of France in Normandy. When the monastery was first constructed, it was connected to the mainland by a land bridge that was covered completely by water during high tide and visible again at low tide. Because of the addition of farmlands to the area, the land bridge is no longer. However, the addition of the farmlands caused Mont-Saint-Michel to be closer to the mainland. Currently, the build of of silt around Mont-Saint-Michel has caused it to become a part of the mainland, but the French government is currently commissioning a hydraulic dam that will help remove the silt and make it an island again.

Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is actually a fortified city which was first built by the Romans sometime around 100 BC and was fully restored in 1853. The view from the town below up toward the fortification offers many beautiful views. The view from the top is also unmatched. Tourists here can enjoy medieval jousting displays which take place twice a day. Besides, the fortified city, this area does not see much tourism, but still offers travelers a lot. It's a great place for those who wish to see a less traveled area of France

The Château de Chantilly, located on the  consists of two attached buildings, the Grand Château and the Petit Château. The Grand Château was destroyed during the French Revolution and was rebuilt in the 1870s. The Château was originally built in around 1528 for the Constable Anne de Montmorency. Every two years a spectacular fireworks competition, Nuits de Feu, is held in the gardens.

The Château d'Amboise was first built sometime in the 11th century for Fulk III, the Count of Anjou. It was later owned by Louis d'Amboise, but was relinquished to royal power when Louis was convicted of plotting against the king. Leonardo da Vinci came to the château where he lived and worked. It is said that da Vinci is buried nearby. Mary, Queen of Scots was raised here as she was promised to marry Francis II. The château suffered a great deal of damage during the French Revolution and was further damaged in WWII.

Fougères, located in Brittany has suffered a long history of sieges. This caused much damage to Fougères, but much of the damage has been repaired over the course of its history. The belfry, one of only three belfries in Brittany, served the inhabitants of the town of Fougères with the ability to know what time it was which was usually only something that the clergy and nobility could do at the time. Fougères is a beautiful example of medieval architecture. Much of the original wall exists today, which provided cover for those living in the town below who would retreat to the fortification when Fougères suffered attacks.

Pierrefonds was originally built in the 12th century, but later was majorly rebuilt for the Duke of Orléans. In 1617, the château was besieged by Cardinal Richelieu's troops and  wasset to be destroyed. During this time, Richelieu's troops found that the destruction of the château was too large of a project and abandoned it. Napoléon Bonaparte later decided to have it restored. Instead of being restored to its original splendor, the project became larger and eventually it had a modern (for the mid 1800s) interior design. However, much of the outside structures shows off a accurate 14th century look.

Château d'Ussé, located at the edge of the Chinon forest overlooking the Indre, is commonly referred to as the Sleeping Beauty castle. Because of the dreamy Flamboyant Gothic/Renaissance look of the castle, Disney designed their castle after Château d'Ussé. This gorgeous château can be found in modern day Rigny-Ussé located in the Indre-et-Loire département.

These are just some of the many castles of France. Each region of France has many castles and châteaux. Many of them are open to the public as museums. Some of them are even hotels that tourists can stay at which can make for a wonderful honeymoon. For the lucky millionaire, there are always beautiful châteaux for sale. Some of them even come as a part of vineyards for those who would like to try their hand at wine production. Which castle is your favorite? I personally think Fougères is gorgeous as it reminds me of something from Robin Hood. Carcassonne is also very beautiful and I would not mind visiting the Carcassonne area one day... or really any of these castles!