Rising monumentally from the lawns of a large landscaped park, the Château de Brissac deserves its nickname of "Giant of the Loire Valley". Cradle of the Brissac family for over half a millenniumThis monument is surprising because of the originality of its architecture: the rigor of the 15th-century defensive towers and the finesse of the 17th-century sculpted ornamentation coexist.
Brissac has belonged to the same family since May 26, 1502The date of purchase of the seigneury by an Angevin gentleman, René de Cossé. Nearly 550 years later, his descendants still live in this incredible residence. While the The park offers magnificent views in the shade of centuries-old trees.The visit reveals a dazzling setting shaped over the centuries and a history closely linked to the grand history of France. The two medieval towers are the last vestiges of an old castle built in the 15th century by Pierre de Brézé, minister to Louis XI. In 1600, the first Duke of Brissac entrusted the construction of a new palace on the site of the old fortress to his architect, Jacques Corbineau, but the death of Charles II de Cossé in 1621 brought the project to an abrupt and definitive halt; it was never completed by his successors. This explains the striking, yet charming, heterogeneity of the facades visible today.
Brissac Castle invites anyone who enters into the intimacy of a family history that includes illustrious figuresIn August 1620, it was the scene of a significant event: the reconciliation of Louis XIII and his mother, Marie de MediciThe King's Chamber, accessible through the grand, monumental gallery 32 meters long, preserves the memory of the monarch's visit when he was 19 years old. A tour of the chamber invites visitors to appreciate the precious furnishings, the richly decorated ceilings, and the family portraits amassed by the 17 successive generationsLouis-Hercule, eighth Duke of Brissac, Governor of Paris, Colonel of the Hundred Swiss, made his mark on history through his sixteen-year relationship with the famous Countess du Barry.
On 7 floors, the giant of the Loire Valley counts In total, more than 200 incredibly well-preserved piecesThe highlight of the show is the discovery of the a delightful theatre built by a music-loving Marquise de Brissac, Jeanne Say, at the end of the 19th century.
The visit finally ends in the cellar of the castle with a tasting of the estate's wines and the discovery of historical cuisines.
