Château du Plessis-Bourré

Updated June 11, 2025

Château du Plessis-Bourré | Film France

## Château du Plessis-Bourré: A Moated Fortress with a Story to Tell

Just 15 km north of Angers, Château du Plessis-Bourré rises out of a mirror-still moat in the flat Anjou countryside. It looks almost improbably intact – four towers, double drawbridges, and a perfect rectangle of pale stone reflected in the water. Regional tourism boards and heritage sites consistently describe it as a rare example of a Loire Valley castle that still appears almost exactly as it did in the 15th century.

For RealJourneyTravels.com readers planning time in Angers or road-tripping through the Loire, this is an easy half-day stop that feels far less commercial than some of the headline châteaux, yet with plenty to see once you cross the bridge.

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## Where Is Château du Plessis-Bourré?

– Location: Commune of Écuillé, in the Maine-et-Loire department, roughly 15 km north of Angers, between the Mayenne and Sarthe valleys.
– Region: Western Loire Valley / Anjou.
– Setting: Flat, rural landscape with about 50 hectares of grounds surrounding the castle complex. Angers

If you’re building a base in Angers, you can easily combine the castle with a visit to the massive Château d’Angers in town for a “fortress-focused” day. It also slots neatly into a broader Loire Valley châteaux road trip, especially if you prefer a mix of blockbuster sites and quieter, atmospheric stops.

– Internal link idea: Things to do in Angers
– Internal link idea: Loire Valley châteaux itinerary

(Adjust URLs to match your internal structure.)

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## A Quick History: From Royal Financier to Film Set

### Jean Bourré’s ambitious project

Jean Bourré, the powerful finance minister and close confidant of King Louis XI, bought the lands of Plessis-Bourré in 1462. Between 1468 and 1472/1473, he built the castle you see today, replacing an earlier manor house.

Two things stand out from the historical record:

– Speed: It was completed in under five years, unusually fast for a major fortified residence of the period.
– Continuity: Externally, the castle has barely been altered since the 15th century, which is why it feels almost “time-capsuled” compared with many Loire châteaux that were heavily reworked in later centuries.

### Ownership and protection

Over the centuries, Plessis-Bourré passed through several noble families. In the early 20th century it was purchased by Henry Vaïsse; on his death in 1956 it passed to his nephew François Reille-Soult, Duke of Dalmatie, a descendant of prominent Napoleonic marshals.

Key milestones:

– 1931: The château, its pond, moat and avenues were all listed as a Monument historique by the French state, a status confirmed across multiple language editions of official and encyclopedic sources.
– Late 20th century: Extensive restoration and day-to-day running were overseen for decades by Antoinette de Ferrières de Sauvebœuf (born de Croix) and her husband Bruno de Ferrières de Sauvebœuf, who lived on-site with their family for over 30 years.
– Since 2010: The castle has continued to be inhabited and managed by descendants of François Reille-Soult de Dalmatie; recent references name Aymeric d’Anthenaise and Jean-François Reille-Soult de Dalmatie among those overseeing the property.

### A favourite backdrop for filmmakers

Because the exterior is so intact and visually striking, Plessis-Bourré has been used repeatedly as a film location. Heritage and tourism sites list several well-known productions that shot here, including:

– “Peau d’Âne” (Donkey Skin), Jacques Demy’s cult fairy-tale film
– “Le Bossu”
– “Fanfan la Tulipe”
– Other French historical films and TV dramas set in late-medieval or Renaissance periods

If you’re visiting with cinephiles, this gives a fun extra angle – the courtyard and moat are recognisable once you’ve seen the films.

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## Architecture: A Transitional Fortress-Residence

Plessis-Bourré is often described as a “château de transition” – a building that fuses late medieval defensive architecture with the comfort and aesthetics of the early Renaissance.

### The moat and double drawbridges

– The entire castle stands on an island surrounded by broad, water-filled moats that emphasise its rectangular footprint.
– A long stone bridge (around 40+ metres according to French architectural descriptions) leads to two side-by-side drawbridges – historically, a smaller one for pedestrians and a larger one for horses and carriages.
– Unusually, there is a three-metre-wide stone terrace between the outer walls and the moat, allowing artillery to be positioned all around the castle while still keeping the water barrier intact.

During guided visits, some tours still demonstrate how the drawbridges operate, which is not something you see often in the Loire. Castles

### Towers, ramparts and defensive features

From the outside, Plessis-Bourré ticks every “fortress” box:

– Four massive corner towers and a central keep
– A chemin de ronde (rampart walk) along the top of the walls
– Fortified gates and gun-ports
– Wide, fully flooded moats mentioned across several tourism resources

Yet, at the same time, the façades feature:

– Big mullioned windows
– Higher-ceilinged salons
– More decorative stonework that signals the arrival of Renaissance taste in France.

This dual character is one of the main reasons architecture buffs seek out Plessis-Bourré.

### Interiors and the famous Guards’ Room

Inside, the castle preserves a sequence of 15th-century rooms, many of them furnished, along with:

– A chapel frequently mentioned in visitor impressions as a highlight
– The Guards’ Room, where the wooden ceiling is painted with an intricate cycle of figures and animals. French tourism sources emphasise this room as one of the château’s showpieces, both for its artistic quality and for the mysterious symbolism woven into the imagery.

Guides and interpretive materials often touch on the period’s interest in alchemy and astrology to explain certain decorative choices, though exact meanings are still debated among specialists.

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## What It’s Like to Visit Today

### Guided tours and language support

Multiple independent visitor guides agree on a key point:
you visit the interiors either on a guided tour or with written materials. Castles

– Standard tours are given in French.
– Handouts or information sheets in other languages (commonly English and others) are provided so non-French speakers can still follow along. Castles
– Some third-party travel resources also mention audio guides, though availability can vary; treat this as a “nice-to-have” rather than a guarantee and confirm on-site or via the official website.

Because you’re inside as part of a group, you’re led through a curated route: courtyard, state rooms, chapel, and sometimes a demonstration of the drawbridges in action. That structure makes this château feel particularly rewarding compared with sites where you’re left wandering with minimal context.

### Grounds, gardens and photo spots

Even before you go in, there’s a lot to take in:

– Approach views: the long straight path and bridge across the moat are incredible photography angles, especially in soft morning or late-afternoon light.
– Moat reflections: the still water and lily-pads get frequent praise in traveller reviews.
– Green space: regional tourism listings highlight 50 hectares of surrounding grounds, with space to walk and picnic. Angers

You’ll typically park in a designated car park or roadside area and walk a short distance to the entrance; regional and third-party guides all refer to free parking and an easy walk. Angers

### Events and reenactments

Beyond standard visits, recent travel-advice aggregators and visitor reports describe special event days, including historical reenactments with costumes, muskets, cannons and horses, plus family-friendly entertainment.

Details such as themes, dates and formats change year by year, so always:

– Check the official château website or local tourism boards for the latest programme. Loire Valley
– Book ahead on event days if possible, as those dates tend to be busier.

### Is it good for children?

Recent visitor summaries and travel-tip platforms consistently note that children respond well to Plessis-Bourré, largely because:

– The moat, towers and drawbridges are easy to understand and visually exciting.
– Reenactment days add movement and spectacle.
– The visit length is relatively short (regional sites suggest around 1 hour for the main château visit), which suits family attention spans.

Do factor in the walk from the car park and the stairs inside the castle if you have very young children or mobility concerns.

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## Practical Tips (and Where Information May Be Outdated)

### Opening hours and seasonal closure

Here’s where we need to be careful.

– A respected English-language guide notes that the château is closed from 1 December to mid-February, open afternoons only in low season, and generally open 10:00–18:00 from April to September with some closure on Monday and Tuesday mornings.
– A more recent regional tourism page lists detailed timetables for upcoming seasons, confirming that hours vary by season and day of the week. Loire Valley

Because these sources can lag behind real-time adjustments (special events, private functions, renovation periods), treat them as indicative only:

> Actionable takeaway:
> Always confirm current opening hours on the château’s official website or via the Angers/Anjou tourism offices before you drive out. Online summaries and blog posts can become outdated without warning.

### Tickets and passes

– Regional tourism sites and guide pages indicate paid entry, with adult tickets in the ~€10 range mentioned in recent years.
– The castle has been included in some versions of the Angers City Pass, which can offer good value if you’re visiting multiple sights in and around the city. Angers

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