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Chateaupedia

The castles of Gilles de Rais

4 châteaux listed

4 places from the Vendée to Poitou that belonged to the marshal or bear his name, with admission prices and opening seasons.

Gilles de Rais was a Marshal of France, a loyal supporter of Charles VII and a companion of Joan of Arc. He was executed in 1440 for his crimes.

At Tiffauges, where Anjou, Brittany and Poitou meet, he added the residence and the gatehouse to the fortress of the viscounts of Thouars. Folk tradition ties this castle to Bluebeard, the character created by Charles Perrault, with whom its lord came to be identified.

The castle at Pornic, rebuilt in stone by the lords of Rais, belonged to him. Champtocé, on the Loire, is now a ruin also known as the castle of Gilles de Rais. At Saint-Martin-la-Pallu, in the Vienne, a seven-towered château lists him among its owners and bears his name.

The places, one by one

From the best known to the most discreet. Prices are for one adult; the season comes from the opening periods each place publishes.

  1. Château de Tiffauges

    Château de Tiffauges (Tiffauges Castle)

    Tiffauges, Vendée

    He built the residence and gatehouse here; tradition sets the Bluebeard legend in this castle.

    Open April to September

    Opening hours and access

  2. Château de Pornic

    Château de Pornic (Pornic Castle)

    Pornic, Loire-Atlantique

    Castle of the lords of Rais, once owned by Gilles de Rais.

    Adult admission: €10Open July to August

    Opening hours and access

  3. Château de Gilles de Rais

    Château de Gilles de Rais

    Champtocé-sur-Loire, Maine-et-Loire

    Ruins on the Loire, also known as the castle of Gilles de Rais.

    Season not published

    Opening hours and access

  4. Château de Gilles de Rais

    Château de Gilles de Rais

    Saint-Martin-la-Pallu, Vienne

    Gilles de Rais was one of its owners, and the château bears his name.

    Season not published

    Opening hours and access

The map

The 4 places on this page. Tap a point to open its page.

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The route

Four stops over two days, from the coast at Pornic to Poitou: Pornic, Champtocé on the Loire, Tiffauges, then Saint-Martin-la-Pallu, north of Poitiers.

StopFrom the previous stop
1.Château de Pornic (Pornic Castle) · Pornic
2.Château de Gilles de Rais · Champtocé-sur-Loire100 km
3.Château de Tiffauges (Tiffauges Castle) · Tiffauges48 km
4.Château de Gilles de Rais · Saint-Martin-la-Pallu110 km

258 km in a straight line overall

Frequently asked questions

Which is Bluebeard’s castle?
Tiffauges Castle, in the Vendée. Folk tradition linked its lord Gilles de Rais, executed in 1440, with the Bluebeard character created by Charles Perrault.
Gilles de Rais castles: which ones are open all year?
None is listed as open all year in the opening periods we have collected. Check each page before you go.