Château de Saint-Brice

Château de Saint-Brice is a protected castle in Saint-Brice, France, featuring a single-story main building topped with turrets crowned by pepper-pot roofs and covered by slate-shingled dual-slope roofing. Five carved stone pediments grace the facade above its windows, set within grounds that include historical gardens and manicured grounds.

Charles Poussard du Fors built this castle, which hosted a meeting between Catherine de Medici and Henry of Navarre, the future King Henry IV, in 1586. This encounter between two major figures brought together opposing forces during a turning point in French religious and political history.

The grounds contain a boxwood maze registered as a historical monument since 1971, reflecting the artistic vision of its original creators. This garden design remains visible to visitors viewing the exterior and during river tours.

This castle remains private property and is not open to visitors on the grounds, though it can be admired from outside the perimeter. Boat tours along the Charente River offer the best alternative view of the structure and its surroundings from the water.

The estate served as a filming location for two French film productions in the 1960s: L'Education Sentimentale and Benjamin, the latter starring Catherine Deneuve. This connection to cinema history adds a layer of cultural interest for those familiar with these classic French films.