Visit Château de Brézé, the most unusual castle in the Pays de la Loire region

Dive deep into the history of the Château de Brézé

Are you ready to dive several meters deep? For several hundred years, one lord after another has built the deepest fortress in the world. The castle's construction can be estimated at around 1063, at the time of the first Viking invasions. You'll also discover Europe's deepest dry moat. Once a refuge from enemy invasions, today the castle is a haven for the curious and history buffs alike.

Today, this private monument, owned by the Count and Countess de Colbert, welcomes almost 100,000 visitors every year. The contrast between a richly ornamented aerial château and a secretly concealed underground castle arouses the curiosity of its visitors. This submerged castle has no shortage of mysteries. It's up to you to unmask them all!

Discover: a unique underground fortress

Immerse yourself in the history of the castle's former lords, both literally and figuratively, as behind its stone facing lies a veritable underground labyrinth carved out of the rock. This Renaissance-style castle unveils a spectacular underground trail several kilometers long. To discover the castle's great secret, you'll need to follow a simple gallery from the outer courtyard. When the underground caverns are finally revealed to you, prepare for almost 1,000 years of history to unfold beneath your feet. During your visit, you'll discover an ingenious underground system with a network of galleries and rooms of all sizes.

A unique troglodytic castle, you can walk through corridors dug out hundreds of years ago, and discover the rooms that the lords of the time used: stables, kitchens and much more. Forged by its history, the château reveals its defensive character through a system of moats, drawbridges and loopholes used to repel invaders in the Middle Ages.

Visit Château de Brézé for an unforgettable experience

What will you see in this château? Take a step back in time to make sure you don't miss a thing. In the upper part of the château, you'll have the pleasure of discovering rooms that have been renovated and fitted out with period furniture. Visit Cardinal Richelieu's bedroom, with its large Renaissance fireplace and ornamental tapestries. The portrait gallery, the rare collection of medieval weapons and the neo-Gothic rooms decorated by Pierre de Dreux-Brézé are also well worth a visit.

Outside, the visit continues with the 28 hectares of vineyards that border the château. Once appreciated by Joachim de Bellay, the vineyard has now converted to organic wine production. Don't miss a wine tasting at the cellar. For younger visitors and nature lovers, head to the Château de Brézé small farm at the end of your visit. There, eight little inhabitants await you impatiently. Two pigs, a goat, a billy goat and three ewes guard the premises.

The Château de Brézé, just a few kilometers from Saumur, is an invitation to escape, to be amazed and to discover. What are you waiting for?