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The Most Beautiful Castles to Visit in France this Fall

©Château de Hautefort

There is a special kind of stillness in France when autumn arrives, and nowhere is it more captivating than within the walls of its castles.

Walking through a château in autumn is like stepping into a story where the setting has quietly shifted. The colours soften, the gardens change their rhythm, and the air carries the scent of leaves and earth. Suddenly, familiar places feel different, a grand staircase lit by golden light, a long avenue of trees turning copper, the echo of footsteps in a courtyard where mist lingers in the morning. This is why we love visiting castles at this time of year. They are not frozen in history; they transform with the seasons, and in autumn they seem to reveal their most poetic side.

Chaumont Castle in Chaumont-sur-Loire, France, surrounded by lush estate grounds and greenery in autumn.
View of Chaumont Castle in the Loire Valley, France, featuring French gardens, natural greenery, and a lake in the distance.

©Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire

Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire

In autumn, the park at Chaumont is transformed into a living painting. Tall trees blaze with golden and fiery tones, and the gardens glow under the autumn sun. If you visit during this season, you can also enjoy the International Garden Festival, with creative gardens designed around a new theme each year. Strolling through the grounds, with art exhibitions scattered across the castle and its outbuildings, is a true delight.

Garden of Villandry Castle in France featuring vibrant vegetables and squash ready for harvest.
Villandry Castle dining room in France with a crystal chandelier, warm orange accents, and elegant antique upholstered chairs.

©Château de Villandry

Château de Villandry

Villandry is famous for its decorative vegetable gardens, and in autumn they are at their best. Rows of seasonal vegetables mix with colourful flowers, creating a harmony of shapes and colours that feels almost too perfect to be real. From the ornamental salons to the water garden and the sun garden, each corner has its own charm. Don’t miss the view from the belvedere above the gardens, it’s one of the most beautiful perspectives of Villandry.

View of Chambord Castle, with manicured traditional French gardens spanning the estate.
Historic interior of Chambord Castle, featuring Louis XVI decorative accents, gold moulding, antique furniture, and a crystal chandelier.

©Château de Chambord

Château de Chambord

Chambord is spectacular in every season, but in autumn it becomes almost dreamlike. The evening light turns the stone a soft golden colour, and the vast forest park surrounding the château glows with autumn shades. Early morning mists add a mysterious veil over the Renaissance towers, and if you are lucky, you might hear the deer during the rut, a powerful sound that echoes through the forest at the end of September.

Historic Hautefort Castle in Dordogne, France, with manicured French gardens, a courtyard, and natural light.
Interior of historic Hautefort Castle in Dordogne, France, with antique furniture, elegant drapes, and framed paintings.

©Château de Hautefort

Château de Hautefort

Located in the Dordogne, Hautefort has the silhouette of a Loire château but carries the soul of a fortress. Its history is full of dramatic chapters, from medieval knights to a devastating fire in the 20th century. Thanks to the determination of its owners and the support of the community, the château has been beautifully restored. The French-style gardens are a masterpiece of design, with clipped boxwood, topiary, and long terraces framing views of the surrounding countryside. In autumn, these gardens are especially striking, offering an unforgettable setting for a walk.

Aerial view of historic Chamerolles Castle in Chilleurs-aux-Bois, France, surrounded by a moat and lush traditional gardens.
Medieval Chamerolles Castle in Chilleurs-aux-Bois, France, with lush green vegetable gardens.

©Château de Chamerolles

Château de Chamerolles

Smaller than some of the grand Loire castles, Chamerolles is no less enchanting. Its gardens are particularly charming in autumn, when the flowerbeds and trees take on warm, glowing tones. It’s the perfect place for a quiet walk, where the beauty of nature enhances the elegance of the château itself.

Chantilly Castle estate grounds in Chantilly, France, featuring a body of water beside a lush walking path.
Chantilly Castle estate grounds with a pond featuring carved stone statues at the center.

©Château de Chantilly

Château de Chantilly

Chantilly has a special romantic charm in the fall. The formal gardens designed by Le Nôtre are dressed in warm autumn colours, while the water mirrors reflect the changing skies. A walk around the Grand Canal is especially beautiful at this time of year, with tree-lined paths glowing in copper and gold. Inside, the Musée Condé offers another kind of treasure, one of the most important collections of old master paintings in France, second only to the Louvre.

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