Hi all -

These forums are really so helpful, so thank you for all the advice you've offered in other threads. A few friends and I will be arriving in Paris Aug. 30 and departing Barcelona Sept. 9. We're planning several days each in Paris and Barcelona, with a few days in between to work our way through France to Barcelona (likely by train).

One of our friends very much wants to visit a medieval castle while we're there. I've done some internet searches but am thoroughly overwhelmed by options at the moment, having never been to France. Could anyone offer suggestions on where we might stop off for a few days in between Paris and France? I'm imagining taking the train somewhere and using it as our base for 2-3 days, with a trip to a castle as part of that (we're comfortable renting a car). My friend doesn't have many castle requirements, other than I think he's imagining something very old and imposing looking that we can tour and pretend like we're in Game of Thrones.

Other than that, we're super open in terms of location and other activities in the area. Just looking to explore a different part of France.

Thank you!

It's not that direct from Paris, but you could do Toulouse and visit Carcassonne (which is more a fortress). It's very famous and there are other castles in the Languedoc area. It's easy to take the train from Toulouse to Barcelona. But the direct train from Paris to Toulouse takes 6:30 hrs, so leave around 8 am, get there 2:30 pm, etc. That is a real interesting area and I like Toulouse a lot.

http://www.creme-de-languedoc.com/La...ar-castles.php

Of course, you could easily stop in Avignon right on the way, the Palais des Papes there is medieval. That would be easy and not spend any excess time. Toulouse to Barcelona by direct rail is only about 3:30 hrs.

I was on a train from Barcelona to London the day before yesterday, and got a good photo of the Chateau de Montfaucon as we sped across the Rhone.

They produce wine there, and I wonder if they do accommodation.

It's near Avignon, which has trains to both Paris and Barcelona.

http://www.chateaumontfaucon.com/

You can certainly visit their wine cellars.

If you've got 2 or 3 days, and are willing to rent a car, I would say the thing to do is spend it in or near the Dordogne's Valley of the Five Chateaux, probably in Sarlat. Multiple castles, great scenery, and lots to do. It wouldn't be the most direct way to go, but I'd recommend that over seeing one castle or fortified city.

Christina, that is a wonderful link!

There are lots of castles in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

http://www.castillosnet.org/francia/...?page=1&zon=11

Mark

Thanks, everyone, very belatedly! Fodors wasn't letting me add comments for a bit, so I apologize for the lack of response but these are all very helpful!

The Dordogne might be the best location as long as you rent a car; Carcassonne can be done without a car. Between Beynac and Castelnaud, the latter a museum of medieval warfare, you should satisfy the need to visit a medieval castle.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...164797649/show

in fact, between arrival in Paris and leaving Barcelona you only have 11 nights, which equates to 10 full days, which leaves little time for exploring the area in between.

An alternative would be to do a day trip [or two] from Barcelona; as well as Montjuic in Barcelona itself, there are also several in the immediate vicinity:

http://www.afar.com/travelers/chris-...near-barcelona

IMO breaking your trip in SW France to visit the odd castle is going to take a disproportionate amount of time overall.

For convenience the stop coculd be on the TGV line between Paris and Barcelona - say in Avignon - there is the impressive Palace of the Popes - a medieval wonder right in town and the castle Man in Seat 61 mentions is nearby - you can rent a car for a few days or visit several great places from Avignon by public transports - like the Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) or Les Baux - a ruined plateau-top medieval city or Arles - city where Van Gogh often painted local landmarks, etc.

And it is a great way to break up the long Paris to Barcelona train ride. For lots of good train info check www.seat61.com - Man in Seat 61 who posts above his commercial sight expert on discounted train tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel both have a wealth of info on French trains and where to do on them.

Seems odd that France has a surfeit of old castles but so few are easily reached by public transportation! Can't think of any dreamy castle say near Paris - castle that is - the cheateaus are really not castles, which to me were built for fortifications - chateaus to look nice but not for defensive reasons (though the one at Amboise does both).

Maybe there is a castle in easy day trip reach of Barcelona?

<i>castle say near Paris - castle that is</i>

Vincennes