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Origin and history

The castle of the Plessis-Tison, located in Nantes in the Nantes Erdre district, is built in the early seventeenth century on the eponymous estate, then owned by the family of La Tullaye. Since 1928, he became a symbol of Catholic education after his acquisition by the Ursulines of the Roman Union. This monument, surrounded by 4 hectares of land, now hosts a mixed school, heir to almost four centuries of educational and religious history.

The Ursulines, who arrived in Nantes in 1627, founded their first school near the Château des Ducs. Their congregation, expelled in 1792 during the Revolution, saw its property confiscated and transformed into barracks or hospitals. After their recovery in 1806 thanks to Letizia Bonaparte, they reopened a boarding school and a school, marking the beginning of a long teaching tradition. Their definitive return to Nantes in 1928, with the purchase of the castle of the Plessis-Tison, allows to group their educational activities on a unique site.

The castle, initially surrounded by 25 hectares, is partially acquired (4 hectares) by the Ursulines at the Marquis René de La Tullaye. As early as 1928, it housed residents and outsiders, forming the White institution of Castilla. The buildings were gradually enlarged between 1930 and 2018, with constructions dedicated to primary, secondary and higher education. In 2018, its South Tufeau facade, dated from the seventeenth century, is completely renovated, preserving its historical character.

The high school, under a contract of association with the state since the 1960s, opened in the 1990s with European and binational sections. In 2021, the last Ursuline nuns left the site, ending nearly 400 years of congregational presence in Nantes. Today, the castle and its extensions welcome about 2000 students, from kindergarten to preparatory classes, perpetuating a unique educational and architectural heritage.

The castle of the Plessis-Tison thus illustrates the evolution of Catholic education in France, marked by revolutionary expulsions, reconstructions and constant adaptation to educational needs. Its integration into a modern high school makes it a place where historical heritage and school life coexist, while testifying to the lasting influence of Ursulines in the Nantes region.

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