Château de Brissac

Château de Brissac, located in the Brissac-Quincé area of the Loire Valley, is a soaring Baroque residence rebuilt in the early 17th century under the Cossé-Brissac dukedom. Originally conceived as an 11th-century fortress by the Counts of Anjou, it retains medieval remnants—especially in its twin eastern towers—while its majority reflects elegant 17th-century architectural ideals. It remains the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Brissac.

Despite its regal elegance, Château de Brissac is arguably best known for its resident apparition: the legendary “Green Lady.” Said to be the ghost of Charlotte de Brézé—the illegitimate daughter of King Charles VII and Agnès Sorel—she was murdered by her husband, Duke Jacques de Brézé, in a fit of jealousy after discovering her affair in the 15th century. Now, she allegedly wanders the château’s tower rooms and chapel in a green dress, her mournful presence marked by hollow eye sockets, unseen footsteps, and disembodied sobbing.

Though the château is opulent—with gilded ceilings, classical décor, and a Belle Époque theater—it remains haunted by Charlotte’s tragic legacy. Visitors and even the ducal family have reported eerie sensations and unexplained phenomena tied to her restless spirit.