Château de Tarascon

Château de Tarascon is an early 15th-century royal fortress on the banks of the Rhône in the town of Tarascon, Provence, constructed for René of Anjou.

The castle retains a large rectangular plan with towers and a keep that face the river and town quay, and interior spaces arranged to explain medieval military architecture and later domestic uses. Riverside viewpoints and the quay provide close-up views of the façades and defensive works.

Commissioned in the early 15th century by René of Anjou, the fortress served as a royal and defensive residence; over the centuries it has been used for military, administrative and storage purposes and has been conserved as an important example of late medieval military architecture.

It stands on the left bank of the Rhône in the town of Tarascon in southern France, between the cities of Arles and Avignon.

• Builder and date: Built in the early 15th century for René of Anjou, the château is one of the best-preserved medieval royal fortresses on the Rhône.
• Riverside access: Positioned directly on the bank of the Rhône, the castle presents good riverside views and easy access from the town of Tarascon.

What to See #

• Keep and towers: The main rectangular medieval keep and defensive towers overlooking the Rhône and the town quay.
• Visitor rooms / museum: Museum displays and interpreted rooms that explain the castle's medieval function and later uses.