Jean Bourré acquired the estate of Plessis-le Vent in 1462, having been made wealthy by his important position as treasurer and chief advisor to King Louis XI. In 1468, he started building the current château on the site of this ancient manor. It is located between the Sarthe and Mayenne rivers. It only took five years for the building of this masterpiece to be completed and it remains today as it was then. Le Plessis-Bourré is the perfect example of the Transition style. Its imposing defensive system, including its impressive double draw-bridges, its very wide moats, its corner-towers and its keep, classify it as a stronghold dating from the end of the Middle Ages. However, its elegance, its majestic courtyard, its covered promenade, its large rooms lit by high mullioned windows, its sumptuous decoration and the comfort of its interiors, all speak of the Renaissance. The château was opened to the public in 1955 and has been used in the shooting of a number of French films.
