When there are kings, there are castles and palaces. France has a fair share of these castles. The most famous, perhaps, is the Palace of Versailles. Aside from this, there are still tens of castles and palaces all over the country. There are an estimated 45,000 castles in all of France. Here are 15 of the most sublime there is. Most of these are popular. They always appear in guides and are chased by tourists from far and wide. Some, however, take a bit of effort to go to. They can be out of the way. But upon seeing these castles, all efforts are worth it. While there are thousands of castles in the country, these picks are the most popular. They are rich in their own histories. And aside from being rich in history, these castles are also some of the most beautiful. Behind the beauty, these castles were once sites of sieges. Their walls bear witness to all the romance, betrayal, and wars of the glorious past. Here they are. Château de Chambord, Loir-et-Cher First on the list is one of the most beautiful of them all. The castle holds prestige. It is also in a location that houses many of these beautiful French castles. The chateau was built in the 1500s. This was for King Francis the First. Upon its construction, the castle was already recognized for its unique design. It identifies itself with the emblematic cluster of cupolas and turrets high up on its roof. While photos are beautiful, nothing compares to the real thing. It is beautiful beyond comparison. Rumor also has it that Leonardo da Vinci had a hand in its beautiful features. The castle is made beautiful by a central double-helix staircase. It twists gracefully up until the third floor. From there, a skylight lights the whole staircase and the beautiful interior below. Château de Villandry, Indre-et-Loire A few miles away from Tours is a renaissance palace. The palace is popular with tourists for its amazing gardens. The palace, as well as its gardens, were restored around the early 20th century. These are all arranged through the cross through four terraces of the palace. The restoration was by the Spanish doctor. His name was Joachim Carvallo. Each of these gardens has different themes. One of these is a sun garden. Another is the water garden. Then, there is the ornamental garden. Finally, there is a decorative vegetable garden. All these four gardens never fail to amaze every tourist that visits. It puts everyone in awe for its extravagance. Aside from that, each garden displays amazing scale and precision. The castle is built with the classic Loire style design in mind. Unique to this design are its mansard roofs. Aside from that, its 18th-century interiors are one of a kind. For anyone who is never even interested in history or gardening, the castle never fails to awe. Château de Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne At the southeast corner of Paris lies the Château de Fontainebleau. The palace was home to many of the country’s kings and emperors. It was said that it housed the country’s leaders for more than 700 years. The architecture, art, and grounds hold many of the country’s richest histories. Each new ruler would add something to the interior. Each new leader alters one part or another. One of these examples was Napoleon. In the early parts of the 1800s, the ruler was able to bring with him his character to the palace. Tourists can get to tour around the Emperor’s apartments. His dwellings and his study are accessible to knowledge-hungry tourists. The palace also had decorations in the 1500s under the influence of Francis I and Henry II. These exquisite Renaissance Rooms, by themselves, are already worth the visit. Château de Chantilly, Oise Imposing can be one of the many words that can describe this castle. This 19th-century renaissance beauty is graceful as well as beautiful. Its parterres, or something that is part of the garden, was designed by Andre Le Notre. The stables that tourists now see are the palace’s original stables. It now contains a museum for horses. It is also a museum for equestrianism. Aside from the museum and the garden, the palace is also home to medieval manuscripts. It has precious arts as well as sculptures, too. One of the most popular pieces were those by Italian artists like Raphael and Sassetta. The artworks of Botticelli are also in this palace. The artworks housed within the castle make up a huge collection. It has been collected over many centuries. It is so huge that it can overshadow any kind of collection without a doubt. Tours de Merle, Corrèze What is beautiful about ruins is that it presents a shadow of the glorious past. And it is beautiful. This is true for this castle’s ruins that still stand right on the steep valley west of Massif Central. The ruins were part of houses that date back to about 1200 until the 1500s. Throughout the middle ages, these buildings have gone through different challenges. This even includes the 100 Years of War that started in the 14th century. The ruins are now part of a park. Most of its parts now sit with the woodlands. Tourists that take excitement in such places can tour and wander around. See what else can be discovered. And oh, before we forget. There are medieval-themed activities in ruins during summer. This is something any history buff should never miss.