Age of Chivalry: Castles, Crusaders & Beyond!

Cross a drawbridge, walk the walls of a medieval town, and discover the stories behind Europe’s castles. Choose the royal fortresses of France, the Alpine strongholds of northern Italy, or Bavaria’s medieval castles and famous royal retreats. Each journey combines history with local food, scenery, and time to enjoy the places between the castles.

1. France: Royal Fortresses and Walled Cities

This trip moves from royal power around Paris and the Loire to the fortified landscapes of the Dordogne, finishing at Carcassonne.

Route: Paris → Chinon → Sarlat → Carcassonne → ToulouseOvernight bases: Paris 2 nights; Chinon 3; Sarlat 4; Carcassonne 3; Toulouse 1.Travel style: Public transport in Paris, then a rental vehicle or private driver.

Days	Suggested itinerary
1–2: Paris and Vincennes	Arrive and settle in. On your second day, explore Château de Vincennes, including its royal keep and Sainte-Chapelle. Its visitor program includes a family route.
3–5: Loire Valley	Travel to Chinon. Give the Royal Fortress of Chinon its own day, then visit Château de Langeais for a contrasting look at noble life at the end of the Middle Ages.
6: Into the Dordogne	Transfer to Sarlat. Keep this as a travel day, followed by dinner and an evening walk through the old town.
7–8: Castles above the river	Spend one day at Beynac, then another at Castelnaud, whose Medieval Warfare Museum includes arms, armor, and reconstructed siege engines.
9: A slower village day	Explore Domme and La Roque-Gageac. Add a seasonal river outing or enjoy an afternoon at your accommodation.
10–12: Carcassonne and Lastours	Travel to Carcassonne, spend a full day exploring the Château Comtal and ramparts, then visit the four castles of Lastours. Choose the castle walking circuit or panoramic viewpoint to suit your group.
13–14: Toulouse and departure	Enjoy a final morning around Carcassonne before transferring to Toulouse. Overnight there before flying home.

The strongest medieval attractions here are the fortress interiors, Castelnaud’s warfare collections, and the defensive landscapes around Carcassonne and Lastours. Castle of Vincennes

Family appeal: Castle visits alternate with villages, river scenery, and downtime. Children can compare each fortress: Where was the water? Which entrance was hardest to defend? How would attackers reach the walls?

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2. Northern Italy: Alpine Strongholds and Lake Garda Castles

This journey pairs mountain castles and aristocratic residences with fortified harbors, lakeside villages, and the castles of Trentino.

Route: Milan → Aosta Valley → Lake Garda → Trento → Venice airport areaOvernight bases: Milan 2 nights; Aosta area 3; southern Lake Garda 4; Trento 3; Venice airport area 1.Travel style: Rental vehicle or private driver after Milan.

Days	Suggested itinerary
1–2: Milan	Arrive and recover, then explore Castello Sforzesco. Its medieval origins and Renaissance transformation introduce the powerful families who shaped northern Italy.
3–5: Aosta Valley	Travel into the Alps. Visit Fénis Castle on one day and Issogne Castle on another. Add nearby Verrès Castle if your group wants another visit and tour times fit.
6: Across northern Italy	Transfer to southern Lake Garda. Allow this day for the journey, breaks, and a relaxed lakeside evening.
7–9: Lake Garda	Explore Sirmione’s Scaliger Castle, including its fortified harbor; spend another day at Malcesine Castle; then slow down around Borghetto sul Mincio and Valeggio.
10: Avio and Trento	Travel north, stopping at Avio Castle if its opening schedule fits. Continue to Trento for three nights.
11–12: Trentino’s castles	Explore Castello del Buonconsiglio, requesting access to Torre Aquila’s Cycle of the Months. On the following day, visit the sprawling defenses of Castel Beseno.
13–14: Departure via Venice	Transfer to Mestre or the Venice airport area. Add a short Venice visit if timing allows, then depart the following day.

Fénis offers a particularly useful story about castles as expressions of family prestige. Sirmione adds a fortified lake harbor, while Buonconsiglio and Beseno show how medieval buildings developed into later residences and defenses. lovevda.it

Family appeal: Four nights in one Lake Garda apartment or family hotel gives everyone time to unpack. Castle mornings can be followed by lake time, village walks, and relaxed meals.

Historical angle: Present this as a journey through the late medieval and Renaissance worlds. That accurately captures the variety of buildings visitors will see.

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3. Bavaria: Medieval Fortresses and Fairytale Castles

This route combines famous royal castles with fortified towns and the strongholds associated with medieval rulers and emperors.

Route: Munich → Füssen → Harburg → Rothenburg → Nuremberg → MunichOvernight bases: Munich 2 nights; Füssen/Schwangau 3; Rothenburg 3; Nuremberg 3; Munich 2.Travel style: A rental vehicle or private driver suits the complete loop.

Days	Suggested itinerary
1–2: Munich and Landshut	Arrive in Munich. On your second day, take a trip to Trausnitz Castle above Landshut and explore the old town below.
3–5: Füssen and the royal castles	Travel to Füssen and explore its Hohes Schloss if time allows. Give Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau separate days, leaving room for the lakes and mountain scenery.
6: Harburg Castle	Travel north, stopping at Harburg Castle before continuing to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Allow a full day for the drive and visit.
7–8: Rothenburg	Walk the town walls, explore gates and lanes, and enjoy a slower day in the Tauber Valley. Rothenburg provides the fortified town experience between castle visits.
9–11: Nuremberg and Cadolzburg	Transfer to Nuremberg. Spend one day at the Imperial Castle, then another at Cadolzburg, exploring the lives and power of late medieval rulers.
12–13: Munich and an optional finale	Return to Munich. Choose a final rest day or a full-day excursion to Burghausen Castle.
14: Departure	Fly home from Munich.

Nuremberg provides the imperial history, Cadolzburg the world of the Hohenzollern rulers, and Füssen’s Hohes Schloss a substantial late Gothic castle visit. History

Historical distinction for your page: Neuschwanstein and the present Hohenschwangau are nineteenth-century castles inspired by the Middle Ages. That gives you an interesting theme: how medieval rulers lived, and how later generations imagined their world. Neuschwanstein requires a guided tour with a reserved entry time. Neuschwanstein Castle

Family appeal: Separate days for the two royal castles reduce rushing. The three-night stays in Füssen and Rothenburg also give families breathing room.

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Bonus: Jordan — Castles of the Crusader Frontier

For the Crusader option, I’d build around Kerak and Shobak, adding Ajloun to explore the conflict from the Ayyubid perspective. Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea make this a varied two-week journey. Ajloun was built to oppose Crusader expansion; it should be identified separately from the Crusader-built castles. Forests, Nature & Islamic Castle

Current booking consideration: Jordan is presently listed by the U.S. State Department at Level 3: Reconsider Travel. I would display this as a future or special-request itinerary, with conditions reviewed before booking. Travel.State.gov

Route: Amman → Madaba → Kerak → Petra/Shobak → Wadi Rum → Dead SeaOvernight bases: Amman 3 nights; Madaba 2; Petra/Wadi Musa 3; Wadi Rum 2; Dead Sea 3.Travel style: Locally arranged driver with guides for the principal historical visits.

Days	Suggested itinerary
1–3: Amman, Ajloun, and Jerash	Arrive in Amman. Give Ajloun Castle its own excursion, followed by a separate day exploring ancient Jerash.
4–5: Madaba and Mount Nebo	Travel to Madaba, explore its mosaics, and visit Mount Nebo. Leave an afternoon open.
6: Kerak Castle	Travel south via Kerak, making the fortress the main stop of a full transfer day before continuing to Wadi Musa.
7–8: Petra and Shobak	Spend one day exploring Petra and another visiting Shobak Castle, also known as Montreal.
9–10: Wadi Rum	Continue into the desert for a locally guided excursion, scenery, and time to rest.
11–13: Dead Sea	Travel north for three nights, allowing recovery time after the archaeological sites and desert.
14: Departure	Transfer to Amman airport and fly home.