We've seen a lot of chateau while visiting France and they are all amazing. I will NEVER get tired of exploring them. But there's a few I could go back to more than once, and Chateau Brissac in Brissac, France is one of them.
LOCATION
Located just twenty minutes southeast of Angers, Brissac is an easy side trip from one of our favorite cities. From what I've seen of Brissac, it's really cute, from what we saw, and I'm eager to go back and explore this town of 34k people.
BRISSAC CHATEAU
Brissac has the distinction of being the tallest chateau in France, and it is absolutely stunning outside. When you first cross the little footbridge from the sidewalk to the property, you pass under a pretty, simple archway and make your way over the little creek before coming up to a little cafe and souvenir shop (it was closed when we visited). From there, you pass this massive tree:
And then you head up the walkway to the front of the chateau:
It takes your breath away before even going inside (although I have to admit, they all have that affect on me). Unlike some of the other chateau, you do head through the main doors that you see in the picture above, pay for the tickets at a small table in the main hall, and then, with the guide in hand, you take a self-guided tour through the chateau, following the rooms marked with letters of the alphabet. As is the case with all the chateau (at least the ones we've been to so far), you only get to see a small percentage of the chateau, and the family who have owned it since 1502 still own the property, where the 14th Duke and his family still live on the property. But we still were allowed to see rooms on three floors, even walking the grand staircase, and that's just inside. Outside, a large natural park invites you for simple hikes, quiet times on benches along the narrow river, and plenty of photo ops for the chateau and grounds. I went kind of crazy with the amount of pictures I took (over 100 shots during our visit), so I won't be able to share them all.
Inside
Main Hall (clipped a little so that we weren't getting other visitors in the picutre)
Dining Room. The steps at the end of the room lead to a balcony where musicians would play to entertain the attendees. Very cool.
The Parlor. The details on the fireplace are simply amazing. The people you see in the images in front of the sofa are of the Brissac family.
And so are the details on the ceilings.
The staircase to the first floor while standing on the landing between this flight of steps and the one leading to the second floor. The steps are indented in the center, a testiment to their age and resilience.
The ballroom was long with beautiful views of the grounds outside
Beyond the ballroom is a room that was for King Louis XIII:
This was the room where King Louis XIII met with his mother, Marie de Medici, for a reconcilation that ended up being short-lived.
Though kind of small, the chapel is beautiful and is still used by the family for weddings (the wedding gowns were beautiful).
The front panel from what once was a large chest that now hangs on the wall in the chapel.
The oprah room.
Outside
If the inside of is stunning (and it is), then the grounds surrounding Chateau de Brissac are captivating. From wooded paths past the stables that lead uphill and to the family mausoleum (caan't go inside, but the buidling is pretty and the view is amazing), to the forested trail downhill to a pretty lake and streching grounds, the chateau's park invites you to explore or take a quiet moment at one of the many benches.
Stories about Chateau de Brissac
When you do a search for France's most haunted chateau, Brissac is going to come up in your search pretty quick. With a history that stretches nearly 1000 years and a role in French society that touched even the French royalty, I suppose it's no surprise that there might be legends tied to this amazing chateau.
The most famous legend is the story of The Green Lady. The legends says that Charlotte de Brézé, who was the daughter of Charles VII, married the French nobleman, Jacques de Brézé. Unfortunately, their marriage was not a happy one, and Charlotte ended up having an affair.
When she and her lover were discovered by the her husband, he killed both Charlotte and her lover.
Since then, her ghost - dressed in an emerald dress - has been spotted by both the family who own the chateau and also guests in the tower rooms and the chapel. She's always described as a sad apparition with hollow eye sockets who sometimes moans and cries in the middle of the night.
As one of the most famous hauntings in France, this story brings many visitors to Chateau de Brissac. We didn't know about it when we visited, and we didn't see anything. What I can tell you is that, whether you're ghost hunting or just want to visit a gorgeous chateau, you won't be disappointed with Chateau de Brissac.
Other Stories at the Chateau
As is the story with most of the chateau in France (at least most of them that we visited), Chateau de Brissac was seized, ransacked, and lrft in ruins during the French Revolution in 1792. The family lost control of the chateau, and the 8th Duke, Louis Timoleon de Cosse, was sent to prison in Orleans. Later, he was killed in the September 9th massacres. His killers mutilated his body and placed his head on a pike that was subsequently thrown into a window at Madame du Barry's apartment.
The family didn't regain control of Chateau de Brissax until after the chateau sat in ruins for about fifty years. Since then, the family has restored and lived in the tallest chateau in France.
What We Thought
Chateau de Brissac is one of our favorite chateau. It's beautiful to walk through, and when we went, wasn't overly crowded so it was enjoyable to follow the self-tour at our own pace. Just make sure to allow enough time to explore the grounds as well. You won't be disappointed.
Read More
Angers, France is just a short ride north of Brissac and another one of our favorite locations in this area of France. Get acquinted with this fascinating city at Angers, France: Medieval Majesty Meets Modern Comforts.
At the start of your bookish travel planning? Read my full guide here.
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