This French castle can be visited, it housed one of the greatest serial killers in history

Behind the walls of this tourist castle nestled in the mountains. in Vendée hides a terrible secret…

France is full of architectural treasures which have nourished numerous legends, tales and myths spanning the centuries. Among these jewels of French history, certain castles are believed to harbor terrible secrets, which are fascinating travelers from all over the world. Did you know that in the heart of the Vendée, between Nantes and Cholet, the castle of Tiffauges, is home to a real medieval attraction the west of France, was the residence of the man known as the first serial killer in history. from France ?

We enter this large ruined fortress, firmly attached to a rocky spur by an impressive massive square tower. An impressive coat of arms, a black sable cross on a golden background and gold fleurs-de-lis on an azure background, presents the one who was the master of the place in 1422, but also the author of terrible activities: Gilles de Rais, Marshal of France and companion in arms of Joan of Arc, who was condemned in 1440 to hanging and burning at the stake for heresy, witchcraft, alchemy and the murder of a hundred small children whose bodies are said to have disappeared into the moat. It is said that this historical figure inspired the writer Charles Perrault to create the terrifying Bluebeard in his Mother Goose Tales in 1697, and the castle surfs on the legend more than on the history of the real bloodthirsty baron who hides behind it: “Château de Tiffauges, the castle of Bluebeard", is it indicated on the sign at the entrance. 

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Night falls on Bluebeard's fortress located at Tiffauges in Vendée. © Turpentine – stock.adobe.com

The dark side of the honorable Gilles de Rais began to reveal itself. &agrav; his return from war. A compulsive spender, he surrounds himself with alchemists with the aim of creating the mysterious philosopher's stone to transform the same people into life. gold rate. Very gullible, mystical preachers opened the doors of black magic to him. He kidnaps the children from the castle and inflicts all kinds of abuse on them before putting them to death. For a long time unpunished, the cruel and barbaric lord attracted the wrath of the Duke of Brittany and it was to blame at that moment May the tongues of those close to him be loosened and the veil shed on crimes of such atrocity. unnamed. 

If the lord of Tiffauges is still present in his former home, the murders he committed are never mentioned frontally. A voice, freely inspired by Perrault's tale, tells the story of the castle in a film directed by in 3D,  seen à through the eyes of a child who lets himself be locked away in the castle, with a few anecdotes about the baron's penchant for alchemy, without going any further. Here, it is not a question of frightening the young audience, but rather of marveling them with court life or, again, ;the arrangements of the castle desired by the baron such as the creation of the dwelling and the redesign of the keep.

It must be said that the Château de Tiffauges literally knows how to catapult families into life in the Middle Ages, through numerous shows and activities. Upon entry, small booklets and game notebooks for children are distributed free of charge. The castle has an impressive medieval artillery and the visitor is invited, by speakers who have a lot of # 39;humor, à pull &agrav; the arc or & the crossbow, to handle weapons and other devices of war that launch projectiles at very long distance. The icing on the cake, life-size fights, & the lance and &agrav; horseback, are carried out by seasonal workers. Nothing to be frightened in the end, before entering this castle that looks like Puy du Fou, located in the heart of the city. &agrav; &agrav; barely 20 minutes from the game!