Château du Plessis-Bourré, Medieval castle in Écuillé, France
Château du Plessis-Bourré is a fortress in the Loire region surrounded by a wide water-filled moat with three drawbridges and a fortified gate. The estate spreads across expansive grounds with gardens and lawns that frame the solid stone structure and create a sense of scale around the building.
Jean Bourré, a powerful minister under King Louis XI, ordered this fortress built between 1468 and 1472 as part of his strategy to establish multiple strongholds in the region. It arose during a period when the French crown was consolidating control and restructuring local authority.
The painted ceiling panels inside display symbols and designs that reflect the spiritual interests of those who once lived here. Walking through the rooms, visitors encounter artworks that reveal the personal taste and intellectual pursuits of the noble families who inhabited this place.
Access is typically available during daytime hours, with options for guided or self-guided exploration depending on preference. It helps to check opening times in advance and whether reservations are needed to avoid long waits.
A flat terrace on the fortress was specifically designed for cannons with low-angle fire, showing how early castle architects adapted to the new military technology of gunpowder weapons. This architectural detail reveals the transition from medieval to early modern thinking in fortress design.
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