The 10 Best Castles in Vendee, Pays de la Loire

The largest medieval fortress in the region, wonderful shows and entertainments, conservatory and medieval war machines unique in Europe!This castle of Gilles de Rais, companion of Jeanne d’Arc, since the twelfth century occupies a strategic position on the borders of the old provinces of Anjou, Brittany and Poitou.Fascinating, the castle is full of secrets and inspired the legend of Bluebeard...

OUVERTURE LE 1ER JUILLET 2021 Le château de Talmont est une ancienne forteresse littorale dont les premiers vestiges maçonnés sont datés de 1020, ce qui en fait l'un des plus anciens châteaux en pierres de France ! A l'extrême fin du XIIe siècle, Richard Coeur de Lion s'octroie le titre de Prince de Talmont, après avoir hérité de ces terres par sa mère Aliénor. Renforcé jusqu'à la fin du XVIe siècle, le château de Talmont subira ensuite un démantèlement ordonné par Louis XIII et Richelieu. Classé Monument Historiques depuis 2009, le château propose visites et animations tout au long de l'année. Labellisé Qualité Tourisme et accueil vélo, ne manquez pas de découvrir ce site incontournable de la côte vendéenne !

Donjon - Medieval garden - Museum of country Life and TraditionRe-live the daily life of the middle Ages, by visiting the donjon restored and fortified over 5 floors, the donjon offers an exceptional view of the Vendeen Bocage from the Wall-walk. Walk through the medieval garden which blends, charmingly, the coulours and scents of the squares of vegetables, flowers, medicinal and culinary herbs.

The castle was built for Nicolas Rapin in the late sixteenth century. The facade decorated with terracotta muses from the eighteenth century and the porch, illustrate the influences of the Poitevin nobility in the sixteenth up to the eitghteenth century. The lobby, with its many art objects: miniature, keys, weapons, eighteenth clothing, pottery ... and a magnificent sedan chair of the eighteenth. Then the eighteenth furniture and paintings by few well known masters. The large living room is dominated by a fireplace designed by Philibert Delorme, the carved and gilded wooden pediment was realized for the first of Moliere's Bourgeois Gentilhomme before Louis XIV in Chambord. The small living room is decorated with beautiful oak woodwork Louis XVI garlands. The dining room is under the aegis of Francis I, with two doors from Chambord opening onto a huge fireplace. Georges Simenon lived here between 1941 and 1943 and received his friends Jean Tissier and painter Maurice de Vlaminck.

Welcome to "Le Château des Essarts", main héritage of the English culture due to the Plantagenet's family in 1182. Subsequently under the influence of Anne de Pisseleux, Francis 1st's favorite, the castle evolves into a magnificent Renaissance building. In 1794 the entire castle and outbuildings burnt down during the Vendée's Wars. Today, the association in charge of the place, opens all 17 hectares of park to entertain younger as older through shows, activities and games. The shows are not translated, some knowledge of the French language is required to make the most of the entertainment.