Chateau de Beaucaire visitor guide

Visit Chateau de Beaucaire, France

The Chateau de Beaucaire is a castle above the town centre of Beaucaire, a town in the Gard department of Occitanie.

Discover Chateau de Beaucaire

France This Way review: although much of the castle is in ruins, the walls and towers of the Chateau de Beaucaire are an imposing sight, and you have lovely views across the town of Beaucaire, and the castle is free to enter

The castle is a ten minute walk from the town centre in Beaucaire, or you can drive here - there is parking available close to the castle.

History of the Chateau de Beaucaire

The original castle was built here in the 11th century, and then largely fortified and developed as a citadel in the 13th century.

The history of the castle was marked by several events over the following centuries, including a peace treaty signed here in 1258 between the town of Avignon and the Marquis of Provence, and the castle was besieged by the English with the help of the Burgundians in 1419 - the siege was ultimately unsuccessful.

The active period in the life of the castle came to an end in 1632 when Cardinal Richelieu, minister to King Louis XIII, ordered that the building be dismantled.

Visit the Chateau de Beaucaire

When you visit, you reach the entrance to the castle by a long ramp. A substantial part of the castle walls still exists, and there is a very unusual triangular castle keep, the only one in France.

You can also see a small chapel, called the Chapel of Saint-Louis, built in the romanesque style. The interior of the chapel and the keep are only accessible if you are part of a guided tour.

Most of the other buildings that once stood inside the walls have now disappeared, now replaced by informal gardens. You can walk along part of the walls, and from the top of these ramparts you have far-reaching views across the town of Beaucaire and to the Chateau de Tarascon the other side of the river.

We were told that medieval reenactments and other events sometimes take place in the castle grounds, although none were advertised when we visited.

Attractions nearby

You can explore the town centre of Beaucaire while you are here - see the Beaucaire guide for details.

On the other side of the Rhone river you can visit the imposing Chateau de Tarascon, and another castle you should visit is the Chateau of Baux de Provence, a charming medieval castle in a beautiful village.

See more castles in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Gard guide and the Languedoc-Roussillon guide.

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Map of Chateau de Beaucaire and places nearby

Places to visit near Chateau de Beaucaire

Beaucaire

Beaucaire is well situated for exploring the popular towns of Arles, Nimes and Avignon

Beaucaire guide

Chateau de Tarascon

The Chateau de Tarascon is an imposing 15th century castle on the banks of the Rhone

Chateau de Tarascon guide

Tarascon

Tarascon is a pleasant town with a substantial castle on the Rhone river, well placed for exploring the region around Arles and Avignon

Tarascon guide

Fontvieille

This town near Arles has a small historic centre to explore when you are passing

Fontvieille guide

Carrières de Lumières in Baux-de-Provence

The Carrieres de Lumieres is a sound and light spectacle based around famous artists works, in the village of Les Baux-de-Provence

Carrières de Lumières in Baux-de-Provence guide

Baux-de-Provence

The village of Baux-de-Provence is small but exceptionally picturesque, and has beautiful views across the Provencal countryside. Unmissable!

Baux-de-Provence guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Gard

The French version of this page is at Chateau de Beaucaire (Francais)