Visiting castles in France can be exciting - with all the stories of ferocious battles and knights in shining armor. Some of the castles are even known to have a resident ghost.France has thousands of castles (around 1,000 in the southwest alone). A few of them have been used as stage sets for movies, such as Jeanne d Arc and Chocolat.

The castles in the Loire Valley are world-famous and a real tourist magnet; the Chateau de Chenonceau looks like it came straight out of a fairytale book, with its serene location on the river Cher.

So why are there so many castles in France? Castles served primarily as the residence of a nobleman who defended certain territories. They were places especially designed to protect the nobleman and citizens from any invading army, which is the reason why castles have drawbridges and battlements. Each castle was a fortress where the nobleman could control the surrounding territory.

One of the most spectacular castles in France would probably be the Chateau de Versailles. This castle was once just a village 10 miles from Paris, but today it is a suburb of the capital city. It has always been the center of power for the absolute monarchies. Noblemen from all the surrounding territories were required by Louis XIV to spend some of their time every year at Versailles, so that he could prevent regional power from developing.

Other french castles are perched defiantly on clifftops, dominating the countryside for miles around, such as Castlenaud and Beynac in the Dordogne region. East of Beynac is the french Chateau de Montfort. This castle has seen many wars throughout the past, burned down and rebuilt many times.

Gordes, in Provence, is also a highlight and popular tourist destination. The village homes are made of stone, in colours of honey and terracotta, with its medieval castle perched at the top. The relaxed and laid back atmosphere which prevails around the village, makes it easy to forget that Gordes has had a tumultuous history, having been besieged during the Wars of Religion.

Famous french castles are not the only things you’ll see. There are many villages that were built on hillsides, as fortresses during a battle, and have remained today. All of them with amazingly gorgeous surroundings - a standout being the Lot Valley, which covers 4 districts: Midi-Pyrenees, Acquitaine, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Auvergne.

Najac, for example, is a village that was built on a ridge - one reason for this was that it was much harder to fight when a soldier had to run uphill, and it was easier for the defending people to fight looking down on the enemy. The village still has the fortress and medieval style homes.

Penne is a beautiful picturesque village that is a must-see, built on the side of a lush green hill. The battlements are located at the top, with the beautiful medieval houses tumbling down below the battlements; the 12th century church makes you feel like you are stepping into the past.

This article was  written by Sarah Role

About the Author

Sarah Roles loves travelling and writing about France. She has published a website, www.france-travel-secrets.com which provides planning resources and travel tips for holiday makers.

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