Château du Plessis-Bourré, Angers

Castle near Angers

CC BY-SA 3.0 / NonNobis

The Château du Plessis-Bourré, located in Écuillé near Angers, is a remarkable example of 15th-century French architecture. Constructed between 1468 and 1473 by Jean Bourré, the finance minister to King Louis XI, the château seamlessly blends medieval defensive features with Renaissance elegance. Surrounded by a wide moat and accessible via a 44-meter-long bridge, it boasts four corner towers, a functioning drawbridge, and a chemin de ronde (rampart walk), all of which have remained largely unaltered since its completion. This preservation makes it one of the few Loire Valley castles to retain its original exterior architecture.

Inside, visitors can explore richly decorated rooms furnished according to the styles of the 15th to 19th centuries. The Salle des Gardes (Guard Room) is particularly notable for its coffered ceiling, which features 24 painted panels. Sixteen of these panels depict alchemical symbols inspired by the three primary substances: mercury, sulfur, and salt, while the remaining eight illustrate proverbial scenes with a mischievous spirit. These artworks were once concealed due to their boldness.

The château has also served as a filming location for several movies, including Jacques Demy's “Peau d'Âne” (1970) and Bertrand Tavernier's “La Princesse de Montpensier” (2010). Open to the public from February to November, the Château du Plessis-Bourré offers both guided and self-guided-tours. Visitors can enjoy exploring the castle's interiors, strolling through its surrounding parklands, and experiencing a site that beautifully encapsulates the transition from medieval fortress to Renaissance residence.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.5 (2,030)

Château du Plessis-Bourré in Écuillé is an exceptionally well preserved 15th-century fortified château with a working drawbridge, surrounded by an impressive moat and attractive grounds; visitors praise the intact rooms and towers, peaceful gardens and attentive staff, and enjoy special events such as medieval reenactments and Napoleonic or jousting-themed days that bring the site to life, though be aware there can be a short walk from the parking area.

Bryan van Soest

2 years ago

"Nice castle and we had the pleasure to go to the castle, when they were doing a reenactment. It was very cool to see them shoot with muskets, ca onsand run through the gate with horses. The rooms were very well preserved and beautiful. Besides the castle, you'll also be able to walk through the garden. So overall, very kind staff and quite a nice castle when you're in the area. You do have to walk a bit from the parking lot to the castle. Not sure if that's common...."

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Vincent

2 years ago

"I visited this wonderful castle in Oct 2005 when I was student in Angers. I walked from the center of Angers in a Saturday morning and enjoyed thecalm and beautiful country side view. The tour of castle is magnifique. Just found the photos in my old computer and want to share here...."

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John Yu

2 years ago

"The Chateau is surrounded by an impressive moat and beautiful grounds. The current owners still live in private apartments in the Chateau and aredecendants of the Count and Countess who lived there during its grand days. Several historic movies were filmed at the Chateau. Highly recommend a visit to this beautifully preserved Chateau...."

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The Château du Plessis-Bourré appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Angers!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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