Le Plessis-Bourré castle

No doubt made wealthy by his important position as treasurer and chief advisor to King Louis XI, Jean Bourré acquired the estate of Plessis-le Vent in 1462.


In 1468, he started building the current chateau on the site of this ancient manor. It only took five years for the building of this masterpiece to be complete. It has never been altered since that time, so that we can still admire it as it was originally built, more than 500 years ago!

Le Plessis-Bourré is the perfect example of the Transition style. Its imposing defensive system, including its impressive double draw-bridges , its very wide moats, its wall-walk, its corner-towers and its keep, classify it as a stronghold dating from the end of the Middle Ages.

However, its elegance, its majestic courtyard, its covered promenade, its large rooms lit by high mullioned windows, its sumptuous decoration and the comfort of its interiors enjoyed by many French kings, all these features speak of the Renaissance.

The chateau's existence has been threatened several times during the centuries.

Ownership changed several times until Monsieur Vaïsse, the grandfather of the current owners, took possession in 1911. He was a great art lover and brought the chateau back to life, restoring it in the image of the original and furnishing it with taste. This is the reason why it was chosen for classification as a historic monument in 1931.


Requisitioned during the First World War, it served as a hospital for treating the injured and sick.

During the Second World War, it was used to house the American Embassy to Poland and suffered no damage.

When Monsieur Vaïsse died, his nephew, the Duke of Dalmatia, succeeded him and opened the chateau to the public in 1955. Today, his descendants, the Reille-Soult de Dalmatie family, represented by the family of Antoinette and Bruno de Ferrières de Sauvebeuf, who live in the chateau throughout the year, have taken over responsibility for preserving its authentic and family character.