Bluebeard's sinister castle

Perched on a hilltop overlooking the valley where the rivers Sèvre Nantaise and the Crûme flow together, the Château de Tiffauges is strategically located for battle.

Geoffrey Thouars built the castle in the 12th Century, its ramparts and towers protecting the village by the Crume river. In 1420 when she married Gilles de Rais, who fought alongside Charles II and Joan of Ark in the Hundred Years War, Château de Pouzauges and Château de Tiffauges were part of Catherine de Thouars's dowry.

Château de Tiffauges became the place where Gilles de Rais later committed  atrocities against children. Believing he could turn their blood into gold, he performed experiments on them. Around two hundred kids disappeared from the area and nearby villages. In October 1440, he was tried for heresy, sodomy and the murders of one-hundred-and-forty-plus children. He was sentenced to hang. In folkloric tales of the 15th Century, he is frequently referred to as Bluebeard - le Barbe-Blue.

At the end of the 15th Century the Viscounts of Thouars inherited the castle. It burned down in 1569 in repeated attacks during the Hundred Years war but in 1793, in one more show of force, it played a strategic role in the last Vendéen victory of the Religious Wars, the Battle of Torfou [Tiffauges].

Château de Tiffauges is the largest medieval castle in the Vendée area. Today it is a haven where children happily participate in medieval reenactments, archery and other events.

Animation: fantastic 
Open – Open from 1 April to 22 September. Special events (see our calendar). Schedule. 
Elderly & disabled – some parking near the castle, and walkway by the lake to the castle from the large car parks in the valley
Children – a medieval paradise, contrary to the chateau's dark history!
Address – Le Château, 85130 Tiffauges
GPS coordinates – 47° 00′ 59″ N, 1° 06′ 53″ W
Images – by inthevendee

Alternative experience: 
Château St. Mesmin

Château St. Mesmin, in the village of Saint-Mesmin, was built annno 1370 by the lord and knight Pierre de Montfaucon. Its seigneury, however, belonged to the lord of Parthenay, Guillaume Larchevêque, of the fortified castle in Vouvant. Sitting right on the border between Vendee and Deux-Sevres on the Sevreau river, Château St. Mesmin would have been surrounded by water moats. The castle was fortified, but a more intensive fortification from 1372-1375 without permission from the lord resulted in a feud between the families.  Guillaume Larchevêque invaded, burned and looted the castle of Saint-Mesmin, prompting an investigation and court case.

The 28-meter tall tower was added in the 15th century. The castle stayed in the Montfaucon family until 1548 when by marriage it went to the family Plessis de la Bourgognière, and then the Saint-Phal family until 1650. Then it was sold to the family Petit de la Guierche  and in the time they owned it, the chateau and grounds became a marquisate (border government). Nearly its entire life Château St. Mesmin was used as a family residence, going from family to family by marriage or through sale.

The family Proust, who owned the castle from 1818 to 1990 allowed it to be used as a military hospital in WWI. 

Today the castle is in the care of the departments Vendée and Deux-Sevres . The castle was renovated and even made accessible for the disabled. Château St. Mesmin is now a superb destination to learn about medieval life.

Open – Guided tours in spring and summer Website 
Elderly & disabled – stairs but made accessible
Children – animation, dress-up 
Address – 79380 Saint-André-sur-Sèvre
GPS coordinates – 46° 47′ 59″ N,  0° 43′ 04″ O
Nearby sightseeing – not far from Pouzauges with its donjon and windmills
Images – by inthevendee