The 14th century Château de Vincennes is considered to be one of French history's most important castles. The castle's massive eight-story donjon once served as the living quarters of King Charles V in the 1360s. Famous prisoners of the donjon include French author and philosopher Denis Diderot and Donatien Alphonse François, also known as the Marquis de Sade. Guided tours of the Château and the recently restored donjon are conducted daily.
Château de Vincennes
Avenue de Paris
94300 Vincennes
+33-01-48008-31-20
en.chateau-vincennes.fr
The 14th Century Château de Pierrfonds was attacked and destroyed by Louis XIII early in the 17th century and abandoned until late in the 18th century when Romanticism renewed interest in preserving and restoring national monuments. Pierrfonds is home to one of France's oldest oubliettes---slender, deep holes built into the basement of the castle into which prisoners were lowered. Of interest to a dungeon enthusiast is the Alexander tower or torture tower with dungeons located at its base. Guided tours of Château de Pierrfonds are available in French, while audio tours are available in English, French and Italian. Evening tours of the castle's imperial apartments and cellars are available as well in French, English and German.
Château de Pierrfonds
rue Viollet-Le-Duc
60350 Pierrefonds
+ 33-3-44-42-72-72
pierrefonds.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/
Located off the coast of Marseille, the Château d'If is a fortress built on a small island by François I, and served as the setting for the Alexandre Dumas novel, "The Count of Monte-Cristo." Tours of the fortress prison include a stop at the cell of the fictitious Count, along with the prison's other fictional prisoners of Abbe´ Faria and the Man in the Iron Mask. The fortress became a state prison in 1580, housing political prisoners up until 1871; graffiti etched in the stones by these anonymous prisoners are visible in the fortress' terrace and inner courtyard. Guided tours are available in French, English, German and Italian.
Château d'If
Embarcadère Frioul If Express
1,Quai de la Fraternité
13001 Marseille
+33-04-91-46-54-65
if.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/
