Château du Plessis-Bourré

Château du Plessis-Bourré

Château du Plessis-Bourré is located in the Écuillé region of Maine-et-Loire, France, situated along the famous Loire River. The château sits in an open area at the end of a path, a classic fairytale castle with pointed roofs, narrow windows, tall walls, and a clear moat, and a huge drawbridge is the only entrance to the castle.

Château du Plessis-Bourré was built between 1468 and 1472 by Jean Bourré, Finance Minister to King Louis XI of France. Since its construction, the château has retained its original appearance, and the unique drawbridge remains intact. In 1931, it was listed as a French historical monument. The château was purchased by Henri Vaisse in 1911 and later passed to his nephew, François Reille-Soult, Duke of Dalmatie, in 1956. From 1978 to 2009, the duke’s granddaughter and her husband, along with their three sons, lived here — the longest-residing family in the château’s history.

Due to its picturesque design, Château du Plessis-Bourré has long been a popular filming location for many movies, including Jacques Demy’s 1970 film “Donkey Skin,” “Joan of Arc” in 1989, “The Man Who Loved Women” in 1997, “Fanfan la Tulipe” in 2003, and “Princess of Montpensier” also in 2003.

Château du Plessis-Bourré

Must-visit reason: One of the most beautiful castles along the Loire River

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: France[France]

Province/State: Pays de la Loire Region [Pays de la Loire Region]