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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château du Plessis-Bourré was built between 1468 and 1473 by Jean Bourré, Louis XI's great silversmith, on a former mansion acquired in 1462. This close adviser to the king transforms the estate into a fortress with hybrid architecture, mixing defensive elements (doves, drawbridges, round road) and pleasure residences (high windows, lounges). The site, located in Écuillé in Maine-et-Loire, becomes a symbol of the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, with supposed alchemical influences in its interior decorations, although not historically confirmed.

The castle welcomed two kings of France in the 15th century: Louis XI in 1473 during a pilgrimage, and Charles VIII in 1487 with his sister Anne de Beaujeu. After the Bourré family, the estate moved to the Plessis de Jarzé, then to the Savary de Brèves in the 18th century. Threatened by destruction in 1850, it was saved by the notary Victor Avant, before being opened to the public in the 20th century by the family Reille-Soult of Dalmatia, descendant of the Marshals of Empire Soult and Masséna.

Ranked a historic monument in 1931, the Plessis-Bourré is distinguished by its exceptional state of conservation, with a unique peripheral terrace allowing the artillery to position themselves. Its coffered ceiling, decorated with alchemist symbols and proverbial scenes, as well as its collections of tapestries and portraits (including those of Jean Bourré and his wife), make it a major cultural place. Since 1985, its management has been carried out by a family SCI, perpetuating its openness to the public and its use as a cinematic decor, notably for Peau d'Âne (1970) or Le Bossu (1997).

The 44-metre moat and bridge, combined with both defensive and residential architecture, illustrate the innovation of the era. The castle also evokes esoteric legends, popularized in the 20th century by the hermetist Eugene Canseliet, who sees it as an "alchemical house". However, these interpretations remain controversial, for lack of tangible historical evidence. Today, the estate, surrounded by 440 hectares, 88 of which are wood, remains an intact testimony to the history of Angelina and a popular filming place.

The succession of the owners reflects the French political upheavals: from nobles executed during the Revolution (like Jean-Guillaume de Ruillé in 1794) to bourgeois families of the 19th century, to heirs of Napoleonic Marshals. Classified objects, such as the Virgin with polychrome wood pain or the still lifes of Quentin de La Tour, reinforce her heritage status. The castle thus embodies five centuries of history, between royal power, family intrigues and cultural preservation.

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