Châteaux in Provence : must-see and rental options
The 10 Castles of Provence to Visit for a Unique Experience
If you’re wondering what to do in Provence and want to admire the region’s landscapes from the most beautiful viewpoints, head to the heights of its most magnificant castles. Shaped by rich and eventful history, these fortresses, many of which have transformed over the centuries into stately homes with lush gardens, offer a unique glimpse into the past. We’ve selected some of the most accessible chateaux, open nearly all year round, with something to discover for every taste. The charming villages they overlook are brimming with Provençal delights, from cozy restaurants and bustling markets to an abundance of local products and more.
Medieval Castles OF Provence: Echoes of Fortresses and Chivalry
Château des Baux-de-Provence
Fully listed as a Historic Monument, this natural rocky outcrop transformed into a fortress remains just as imposing as ever. Located in the Alpilles mountain range, it offers panoramic views over Provence, from Aix to Arles, and includes a keep, towers, troglodyte dwellings, a rabbit warren, an oven, dovecotes, and more. Historical reenactments highlight its medieval past. The entire site is open to visitors year-round. The village at the foot of the fortress is listed among The Most Beautiful Villages of France.
Château d’Allemagne-en-Provence
The unusual name of this château pays tribute to the Roman goddess Alemona, as does the neighboring village. The château mainly dates from the reign of Louis XII, as shown by its five defensive towers, battlements and moats. A Renaissance wing was added later for extra comfort. Now privately owned, it welcomes visitors for guided tours, featuring among other things a collection of Monaco ceramics.
Château de Tarascon
Built on a low rocky outcrop at the crossroads of land and river routes linking Provence to Languedoc, this castle served as a monumental sentinel. The building was primarily used as a prison, though beautiful painted panels from the time of King René of Anjou remain. Owned by the town of Tarascon, the monument is open to visitors year-round.
Renaissance Castles in Provence: Light and Elegance
Château de Lourmarin
Saved from ruin by Laurent Vibert’s purchase, this beautiful Renaissance château is now home to the Laurent-Vibert Cultural Foundation. Open to visitors all year round, it hosts exhibitions and classical concerts. Lourmarin also welcomes artists-in-residence. The château is a jewel of the Luberon Regional Natural Park and overlooks the medieval village of the same name.
Château de Suze-la-Rousse
The austere outer defenses of this château, marked by high walls and turrets nestled within a dense grove, contrast with the Renaissance façades of its main courtyard and the richly decorated interiors featuring paintings, stucco work and ornamental plaster. The building is also home to the Université du Vin (University of Wine). Owned by the Drôme département, the château is open to visitors and offers family-friendly events and activities.
Castles with Grand Siècle Elegance
Château d’Entrecasteaux
While Entrecasteaux still preserves remnants of an 11th-century fortress, successive renovations have mostly left memories of later eras, including a garden designed by Le Nôtre and an 18th-century circular icehouse. The château remains privately owned and is open for visits from Easter to the end of September.
Château de Sauvan
All the charm of the 18th century has been beautifully restored in this carefully renovated château, a shining gem at the eastern edge of the Luberon park. From the grand staircase to the various living rooms, it’s a delight that continues into the orangery and the French-style gardens, currently being restored. Visitors are welcomed at 3pm in the garden and at 3:30pm for the château tour itself, with the schedule varying according to the season.
Château de Grignan
In the heart of the Drôme Provençale, overlooking plains and mountains, the Château de Grignan stands on a rocky promontory above the village. From above, it resembles a Grand Siècle chest of drawers perched atop a fortress. Grignan is famous for the long visits of Madame de Sévigné to her daughter and for the letters she exchanged with family and friends. Listed as a Historic Monument in 1993 and labeled a Musée de France, the Château de Grignan offers visitors a remarkable glimpse into the art of living across different centuries. Various festivals are held there every summer.
Château d’Ansouis
Despite its long medieval history and Renaissance alterations, the Château d’Ansouis is most marked by the 17th century. Its carefully manicured boxwood hedges and formal French garden are enchanting, adding to the lovely views over the Vaucluse from the terrace. The château is open exclusively for guided tours, led by its owner.
Timeless Castles
Château La Barben
This ancient fortress has been transformed into Le Rocher Mistral, a theme park dedicated to celebrating the history of Provence. The program features medieval shows, immersive adventures and 360° projections.
6 CHATEAUX for Rent in Provence
Dreaming of château life? Or inspired you to host an event such as a romantic wedding or a corporate retreat in Provence? Homanie grants you access to the most elegant castles available for rent in Provence.
An Exceptional 18th-Century Château Near Avignon
Just 30 minutes from Avignon and close to Carpentras, this 18th-century château is set within a vast, tree-filled park spanning 35 hectares. Privacy is guaranteed, along with all the perks of expansive grounds. As with any château, the estate features numerous charming outbuildings: a two-story bastide with five bedrooms, a pavilion facing the sunrise with two bedrooms and a second pavilion with one bedroom. There’s also a spacious loft with two bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace, and a kitchen complete with a wine cellar.
The château itself offers seven bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms or showers, and several living areas — perfect for enjoying an apéritif at the bar, retreating to the library, or gathering in the dining room. Throughout the property, original architectural features blend beautifully with contemporary, thoughtfully curated furnishings, creating an atmosphere that’s both authentic and refined. Fully renovated, the château is equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi throughout.
For relaxation, guests can enjoy two swimming pools, a clay tennis court, a pétanque court, a fitness center in the orangery, and, above all, stunning views of the countryside. As always with Homanie, these amenities can be complemented by private coaches whether for improving your tennis game, arranging a wine tasting, or taking a cooking class with a chef.
Uzès: A Private Country Château
Much like the Ducal Château of Uzès, a medieval landmark showcasing every chapter of French history, this medieval château once served as a fortress for a nearby village. Today, it stands within a beautiful 6-hectare park filled with laurels and fruit trees. The estate also features a landscaped garden, a grand courtyard, a tennis court, and two impressive swimming pools, one of which stretches 20 meters.
Whether basking in the sun, enjoying the shade, or dining by candlelight in the evening, guests can savor exceptional meals in the château’s elegant dining room, on the terrace, or in the orangery surrounded by greenery. The entire property has been carefully restored to accommodate up to 41 guests across its 19 bedrooms.
The estate also includes an outbuilding offering four spacious bedrooms, one of which is accessible for persons with reduced mobility and a “Maison du Château” with four additional bedrooms. Countless opportunities await: swim in the pools, relax on the terraces, pick fresh produce from the kitchen garden, host barbecues, and more. Homanie also invites guests to discover the charms of the region with visits to nearby villages or by learning about the area’s celebrated ceramic craft.
A Luxury Estate Above Nice
Some residences have all the charm of a château, the space, the historical beauty, but simply lack the aristocratic owners of the past. Perched at 750 meters altitude, in the heart of the Préalpes d’Azur Natural Park, this property spans a private 9-hectare estate, just an hour’s drive from Nice.
Fully renovated in 2021, this inspiring retreat was designed as a place for creativity, rejuvenation, and learning in harmony with nature, while offering modern comfort and amenities. The 18th-century residence features 17 bedrooms, several adaptable spaces for work and events, a 30m² professional kitchen (in addition to a shared kitchen on the ground floor), a heated swimming pool, catering and bar services, and more.
The spacious indoor areas and two terraces of 100m² and 300m² provide the perfect setting for a wide range of activities: fitness classes, yoga or meditation sessions, outdoor games, permaculture workshops, and hands-on creative projects, whether with family, friends, or colleagues.
Bonnieux, a Spacious Wine Estate Château
Close to some of Provence’s most beautiful hilltop villages (Gordes, Bonnieux, Lourmarin, Roussillon…), this historic wine estate in the Luberon is a property with a truly unique heritage. Set in an exceptional natural environment, it stretches across more than 100 hectares. Recently renovated by a renowned architect, it retains both the splendor of the Renaissance and the impressive volumes of the Middle Ages. Surrounding the château are beautifully landscaped gardens. Reception areas, a wine cellar, an esplanade, and shaded terraces, both the indoor and outdoor spaces can welcome guests for all your events.
For added privacy, the château offers 7 bedrooms and two adjoining guesthouses with 5 additional bedrooms, allowing up to 24 guests to enjoy the estate’s three large lounges, one of which boasts vaulted ceilings.
Guests can cool off in the château’s pool or in one of the guesthouse pools, enjoy lunch in the shade, stroll through the splendid garden pathways, wander the vineyards and woods, or finish the day with a game of pétanque. Life here moves to the sound of cicadas even during the rare rainfall, when the estate’s two lounges, each with a library and fireplace, become the coziest of retreats.
Gourmets will delight in discovering the local treasures: the estate’s own Homanie Bonnieux wines, which pair beautifully with the region’s honey, olive oil, truffles, and goat cheeses.
Brignoles, a Château That’s Also a Bastide
Provençal bastides are typically country houses or fortified villages. Here in Brignoles, it’s both with a main château hosting 9 bedrooms and suites, several lounges, a library, and two dining rooms. This hidden gem, nestled in the hills of the Var region, is surrounded by vineyards, forests, olive groves, and lush gardens, offering a unique atmosphere that blends luxury with Provençal authenticity.
As befits a château, the estate is made up of multiple buildings, with 4 independent guesthouses providing a total of 18 additional bedrooms, allowing up to 36 guests to stay on the property. Beyond the bastide, guests can stay in the observatory, the old mill, or the converted sheepfold.
Amenities abound: an 18-seat private cinema, a wine cellar with a tasting room, a pool house next to a 25-meter swimming pool, a clubhouse with a tennis court and yoga studio, and a 14-seat meeting room.
Brignoles embodies the timeless charm of Provence and invites guests to unwind whether it’s through savoring fine wines from the estate’s vineyards, cycling among olive groves, or playing a game of outdoor tennis at sunrise or sunset.
Lubéron, a Renaissance Château Amid Sculpted Topiaries
Many details in this residence echo its rich past and beautifully preserved Renaissance spirit: wood paneling, grand fireplaces, lofty ceilings, a generously sized kitchen… and also the fountains and water features scattered throughout the French gardens adorned with sculpted topiaries, not to mention the former orangery now transformed into an indoor swimming pool. Yet modern comforts are very much present, with an elevator, air conditioning in the bedrooms, and Wi-Fi.
Surrounding it all, the Lubéron Regional Natural Park embraces 70 hectares of forest, vineyards, and olive groves. At its heart: the château with 7 bedrooms, a sheepfold converted into 6 bedrooms, and a guesthouse with 2 additional rooms.
This estate is the perfect setting to discover the Lubéron, explore the art of wine tasting, wander through woodlands and around the lake, or simply bask in the serenity and beauty of the region.
Also discover all of our villas or estates available for rent in Provence.