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Chateau de Brissac is located in the village of
Brissac-Quince, just south of Angers in the Maine-Loire area, the western part of the Loire
Valley.
With seven floors, it's the tallest chateaux in the whole of France.
Château de Brissac Style
and History
In 1502, Charles II of Cosse, Duke of Brissac, built the chateau on top of the
original eleventh-century, medieval fortress foundations.
Another major rebuilding began in 1606 when the duke planned a more prestigious
home. In the end, he failed to complete his plans, as the medieval towers show.
The fantastic facade you see today dates back from then. You'll notice that at
the junction of the towers it looks incomplete, wrapped like a cracked nutshell.
Inside the Chateau de Brissac one can find room after room
of exquisite antique furniture, paintings and tapestries dating from the fifteenth through the
eighteenth centuries.
Many pieces also have historic significance to France's past and the history of
the family. One important historical event occurred in the sixteenth century. At that time, the
Cosse-Brissacs were allied to the Catholic party of Guise, who were fighting the Protestants.
After the death of Henry III, the next in line was Henry IV of Navarre, a
Protestant. Yet, in 1594, when Henry IV came to Paris to be recognized, it was a Brissac, then the
Governor of Paris, who negotiated on his behalf and let him enter. (Henry IV subsequently converted
to Catholicism.)
Another historic event took place inside the Chateau de
Brissac, when Louis XIII reconciled with his mother, Marie de Medicis. The reconciliation
took place in the King's Bedroom.
The dining room is only one of the many historic and splendid rooms open to
public tours. Many rooms are hung with magnificent tapestries and have painted ceilings. The most
sumptuous rooms include the King's Bedroom, the Mortemart Room (Anne de Mortemart became the
Duchess of Uzes) and the Room of the Hunt.
Memorabilia and decorations in the Room of the Hunt show the French
aristocracy's age-old devotion to the hunt. Both the Marquis and Marquise today are avid hunters
and can arrange hunting for experienced riders.
The Marquis is chairman of Angers race course, and France's representative in
the world association of historical houses. He is Grandmaster of the Order of St. Lazarus, an
ancient order of chivalry. The Marquise has a theology degree.
The Chateau de Brissac has many unique features. There is
a private theatre, built in the nineteenth century for a duchess who loved acting and singing.
There is a private chapel. And as you tread the massive main staircase, note the
steps are made of monolithic slabs of stone.
While touring these rooms with their sumptuous decorations, you'll appreciate
great style, typical of a country in the forefront of art, decoration and fashion.
For centuries the French have raised design to a high art - shown here in the
luxuries that make the rooms a never-ending delight.
Château de Brissac Visitor
Information
Tickets:
Adult ticket - 9 €
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Students and disabled persons - 8 €
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Children tickets: (age 8-16) 4,50 € , children under 8 – free admission,
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Group discounted tickets (20 or more) - 7,50 € pp
Opening times:
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July - August: daily from 10:00 -18:00 (guided tours only)
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April - June and September-October: daily, from 10:00
to 12:15 and 14:00 to 18:00 (closed on Tuesdays)
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November-March: open during school holidays
Contact details:
Please contact the Tourist Office for more information and booking:
Phone. : 33 (0)2 41 91 22 21 /Fax : 33 (0)2 41 91 25 60
E-mail :chateau-brissac@wanadoo.fr
Website: Chateau - main page, Tourist Office page
Visit other Castles
in Loire Valey region:
Chateau de Chambord,
Chateau de Chenonceau
Chateau de Blois
Chateau d Azay le Rideau
Chateau d Anet
Château de Brissac Map&Location
Château de Brissac Adress: Rue Louis Moron, 49320 Brissac-Quincé, France. Get help with
directions:
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