Vieux château de Bournezeau, Listed historic monument and former castle in Bournezeau, France
The vieux château de Bournezeau is a listed historic monument and former castle in the town of Bournezeau, in the Vendée department of France. The original medieval structure no longer stands, but 17th-century outbuildings and a water-filled ditch surrounding the garden remain on the site.
The lordship of Bournezeau dates back to at least the end of the 11th century, when Étienne de Blois was its first known lord. The castle changed hands many times, was partly destroyed by royal troops in 1622, and was eventually sold as national property during the Revolutionary period.
The name Bournezeau traces back to the Blois-Penthièvre family, who held the lordship from at least the 11th century and once called the town Bleais. Visitors today can walk around the 17th-century outbuildings and the old garden moat, which together give a sense of how the estate was organized across the centuries.
The site sits in the center of Bournezeau, across from the former market hall and close to the church, making it easy to reach on foot. Access is generally limited to specific events such as heritage days, when guided tours are also available.
In 1420, John V, Duke of Brittany, was held prisoner in the castle of Bournezeau, an event that had consequences far beyond the town: his wife Jeanne de France had the castle of Champtoceaux demolished to force his release. Nothing on the site today marks this episode, but the 1825 land registry still shows where the castle once stood.
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