7 Quaint Ruined Castles in France That Feel Like Stepping Into a Medieval Storybook
France is known for its grand, palatial châteaux, but the country also boasts a collection of incredible ruined castles that transport visitors back to the medieval era.
These castles, with their crumbling stone walls and rugged landscapes, reveal stories of battles, sieges, and power struggles that shaped the nation.
Exploring these ruins offers a glimpse into the life of medieval nobility and the intense strategic planning behind each castle’s design. Many castles were perched atop cliffs to give defenders an advantage over attackers, while others used their unique geography to ward off invaders.
And maybe the best part – visiting these ruins almost always gives sweeping views over villages, valleys, and rivers that just add to the charm.
Whether you’re interested in history, architecture, or stunning scenery, France’s ruined castles offer a fascinating way to experience the medieval past. There are 7 of my favorite French castle ruins, and I’m sure you will love them, too.
7 Fascinating Castle Ruins in France
1. Château Gaillard
Château Gaillard sits high on a hill in Les Andelys, Normandy, overlooking the town and the Seine River with its impressive ruins.
Built in the late 12th century by Richard the Lionheart, Château Gaillard was intended to guard the borders of Normandy and cut off Rouen from Paris, making it a critical defensive structure for the English.
Just after its completion, however, Richard died, and his brother, King John, took over. Sensing an opportunity, King Philip II of France launched an invasion, eventually breaching the castle walls after a series of sieges.
The most famous event during this siege was when French soldiers scaled the cliffs and snuck in through a chapel window, opening the drawbridge and allowing the French army to enter.
The castle complex is spread across three main sections—the inner, middle, and outer baileys.
Today, the inner bailey is the best-preserved area thanks to restoration efforts in the early 2000s. Visitors can explore the keep, the intact walls, and the unique scalloped outer walls.
In the middle bailey, you’ll find the remains of the latrine tower, chapel, and well, while the outer bailey holds the impressive, though partially crumbled, “Money Tower” (Tour de la Monnaie), which was the first part breached during the French siege.
One of the highlights of visiting Château Gaillard is the panoramic view over the Seine and Les Andelys. With its dramatic setting and layers of history, Château Gaillard is a striking site that gives you a sense of its strategic importance and offers incredible vistas over the village and river below.
2. The Three Châteaux de Ribeauvillé
The Three Castles of Ribeauvillé are a set of impressive medieval ruins perched on the hills above the charming town of Ribeauvillé in the eastern France region of Alsace.
The castles—Saint Ulrich, Giersberg, and Haut-Ribeaupierre—offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history via a 3.7 mile (6km) hike up to the castles which sit high in the hills above town.
The first castle, Saint Ulrich, is the largest and best-preserved of the three. It served as the main residence of the Lords of Ribeaupierre until the 1500s, and its extensive layout of ruined rooms, corridors, and arches makes it feel like an adventure to explore.
Just a few minutes hike further brings you to Giersberg, who’s remains are much smaller. There’s not much to explore here, but there are nice views back to Saint Ulrich.
The third castle, Haut-Ribeaupierre, is set even higher in the hills and offers a more rugged, atmospheric experience. While it’s not as large as Saint Ulrich, Haut-Ribeaupierre is still a fascinating spot to wander and explore while admiring the forested surroundings.
The views from each of these castles are stunning, with Ribeauvillé’s vineyards and half-timbered houses visible below and panoramic vistas stretching across the Alsatian landscape.
3. Château de Fougères
Château de Fougères is a massive medieval fortress located in the northeast region of Brittany, near the border with Normandy.
Built to protect Brittany’s borders during a time when the French and English were constantly vying for control of the region, this fortress played a critical role in defending against invasions long before Brittany became part of France.
Fougères is unique in that, unlike most castles of its time, it wasn’t built on a hill but in a valley surrounded by rivers and marshlands, using the waterways to add an extra layer of natural defense.
First constructed around the year 1000, the original wooden structure was later replaced with the impressive stone walls and towers that stand today. While the ramparts are still remarkably preserved, the interior structure of the castle is in ruins.
You’ll enter through a traditional drawbridge and step into a large, open courtyard. Exploring the castle focuses on walking the ramparts giving views of the surrounding valley, the town, and the castle’s elaborate defenses.
The towers along the ramparts hold presentations on life in the fortress and Brittany’s medieval history. In one tower, you might find a demonstration on weapons and armor used by knights, while in another, a video describes how the castle was successfully breached in battle.
Throughout the day, the castle hosts demonstrations on topics like trebuchets and cannons, adding a hands-on historical element.
A highlight of Fougères is its moat system, which diverts a nearby river to power four water mills that once provided food for the fortress. Today, these mills generate electricity for the site, a modern twist on a historic innovation.
Beyond the château, Fougères village is a charming destination with highlights like the Eglise Saint Leonard, a beautiful church with restored stained glass windows.
The church’s bell tower, accessible with your château ticket, offers a unique climb through spiral staircases and up to panoramic views of the village and fortress—a perfect way to wrap up a visit to this remarkable medieval stronghold.
4. Château des Baux
Les Baux-de-Provence is an adorable perched village that is home to one of the most striking ruined castles in France.
Situated atop rugged cliffs and surrounded by the Alpilles mountains and olive groves in the valley below, the ruined Château des Baux is a vast site spanning five hectares. It has multiple towers, cave dwellings, a chapel, and ramparts that offer expansive views over the Provençal countryside.
The castle was initially built by the powerful Les Baux family in the Middle Ages to control the key trade routes between Arles and Aix, and it once housed up to 3,000 residents within its walls.
Today, the castle’s ruins are an impressive mix of crumbling stone walls and remnants of military might. We loved exploring medieval siege engines like the trebuchet and battering ram, as well as an old medicinal garden.
Despite its formidable appearance, the castle met a surprising end when it was defeated by a tiny force under King Louis XIII, who ordered its dismantling in the 17th century.
Now, the castle ruins meld beautifully with the rocky cliffs they’re built upon, creating a dramatic silhouette and exciting ruins to discover. Plus, the village of Les Baux, which surrounds the castle, is insanely adorable.
5. Les Châteaux de Lastours
The Châteaux de Lastours are a group of four medieval castle ruins located near the village of Lastours in the Occitanie region of southern France, just north of the famed walled city of Carcassonne.
Perched atop a rocky spur, these castles—Cabaret, Surdespine, Tour Régine, and Quertinheux—offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history while offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
Constructed during the 11th and 12th centuries, the Châteaux de Lastours played a significant role during the Albigensian Crusade as strongholds for the Cathars, a Christian sect deemed heretical by the Catholic Church.
The castles’ strategic positions allowed them to control access routes into the Cabardès and Montagne Noire regions. Over time, they were partially dismantled and fell into ruin, but their remnants still stand as a testament to their historical importance.
Visiting the Châteaux de Lastours involves a moderate hike up the hillside, with some steep stone staircases leading to the ruins. The path is lined with olive and cypress trees, which just makes the setting feel even more picturesque and quintessentially Mediterranean.
Upon reaching the top, visitors can explore the remains of each castle, including various rooms, levels, and towers.
The site offers stunning viewpoints overlooking the other castles and the surrounding countryside – truly the views here are unmatched.
6. Château de Kaysersberg
Château de Kaysersberg overlooks the village of Kaysersberg in Alsace, with its hilltop position offering fantastic views of the town below and the vineyards stretching across the countryside.
Built in the early 13th century, the castle was strategically placed to guard routes through the Vosges Mountains into Lorraine. For hundreds of years, it was controlled by the powerful Lords of Ribeaupierre, who also oversaw nearby castles in the region.
One of the castle’s most notable features is its enormous, cylindrical keep, with walls over four meters thick. It’s one of the oldest round keeps in Alsace and an interesting example of early medieval fortifications.
Though the castle was eventually abandoned by the late 16th century, its solid tower remains largely intact, providing a glimpse into its former strength and defensive design.
The path to the castle starts in Kaysersberg’s town center with a short but scenic path that winds through vineyards and gives great views of the castle and town together.
Once you reach the castle, you’re free to explore the ruins and, for the best view, climb to the top of the keep to take in a panoramic look over the village and surrounding hills.
This castle is just 30 minutes from the Châteaux of Ribeauvillé, mentioned above. While the Ribeauvillé castles require a true hike to reach, the Kaysersberg castle is just barely outside of town and on a very small hill, making it easy for anyone to visit.
7. The Citadel of Montreuil-sur-Mer
The citadel of Montreuil-sur-Mer is the heart of the picturesque town in northern France, just a short drive from the coast. Montreuil’s streets are decorated with colorful blooms in pots, boxes, and hedges, especially in the charming transition from the lower to the upper town.
The citadel, originally a 13th-century castle, was fortified in 1567 and saw further upgrades through the 18th century, creating the structure that you can explore today.
Despite many areas being in ruins, the citadel’s walls, towers, and dungeons are still accessible, and visitors can view historical displays of cannons and trebuchets along the way.
The site also includes an impressive moat, and from the walls you’ll get fantastic views of the countryside, showcasing why this location was chosen for defense.
Montreuil-sur-Mer also has a special connection to literature as one of the key settings in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. The town left a lasting impression on Hugo, and he used it as the backdrop for several scenes in the novel, making it a memorable spot for fans of the story.
Beyond the citadel, you can walk the ramparts path around town to take in more views of the landscape that inspired Hugo and enjoy Montreuil’s blend of historic charm and scenic beauty.
The Wrap Up
These ruined French castles give you a chance to explore in a unique way. You can marvel at the engineering feats of the past and connect with history in a truly visceral way. Add in the frequently amazing views, and these ruins can be a memorable addition to your next France holiday.
