Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
16 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
17 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
17 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
17 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France Machecoul Château de Machecoul

Château de Machecoul

The ruins of a medieval castle linked to the murderous French lord that inspired the famous legend of Bluebeard.

Machecoul, France

Added By
Bastien Papinot
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Chateau de Machecoul   Melutopia/CC BY-SA 3.0
Chateau de Machecoul   Melutopia/CC BY-SA 3.0
The castle ruins   Abidougou / Atlas Obscura User
Chateau de Machecoul   Melutopia/CC BY-SA 3.0
The castle from the sky   Abidougou / Atlas Obscura User
Depitction of “Blue Beard” (Barbe Bleue)   Gustave Doré/Public Domain
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The dark story of Bluebeard is one of the most famous folktales in France, inspired by an even more horrifying true story of a medieval lord from Brittany who was sentenced to death for murdering what may have been as many as hundreds children. He was arrested for these terrible crimes at the Chateau de Machecoul, which today lies in ruins.

Gilles de Rais was a wealthy lord and a knight in the French army that fought alongside Joan of Arc in the Hundred Years' War. At one point he owned 36 different castles in the Machecoul area where he grew up. After the army, he led a life of extravagance that, along with his dabbling in occult dark magic and failed attempt at demon summoning, left him in financial ruin.

He became interested in alchemy hoping to make gold to replenish his fortune, seeking the help of Satan through committing unspeakable crimes. Some estimate the number of children he killed to be in the hundreds. He was finally convicted and hanged for his crimes in 1440. Many believe his horrifying story inspired Charles Perrault's famous 17th century story of Bluebeard ("Barbe Bleue"), about a wealthy but vile nobleman with a predilection for murdering his wives.

The Norman style Chateau de Machecoul, sometimes called the Chateau de Gilles de Rais or "Bluebeard's Castle," today lies in ruins. When it was still intact, it was a square, moated fortress with six crenellated towers and a dungeon. The current owners, Béatrice and Bernard de Grandmaison, decided six years ago to preserve and restore the castle and introduce people to the rich history of the place.

Visiting the ruins, you'll get a tour through centuries' of French history: the Britannian Duke Pierre le Dreux who built the castle in 1235; the Hundred Years' War; the story of Gilles de Rais, religious wars with the Gondi, and the French Revolution, after which the castle was turned into a farm. During tours the owners will also talk about the discoveries they have made during excavations of the site, and the work they are doing to revive the castle, which was registered as historical monument in 2004.

Related Tags

Legends Crime Castles Medieval Murder History Ruins

Know Before You Go

You can access the castle by train (Nantes-Croix de Vie lines) or by car at the address indicated above. (Starting from the church, follow the camping de la Rabine or Challans direction.) Tours are two hours long, offered Wednesdays at 3 p.m and 7p.m from July 1 to September 20, and all year for groups of more than eight people. Entrance is 6€, free for under age18. For more information: (+33)2 40 78 50 42 or bbdegrandmaison@free.fr

Community Contributors

Added By

Abidougou

Edited By

hrnick, pgrudin, drazsika, Meg

  • hrnick
  • pgrudin
  • drazsika
  • Meg

Published

October 3, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://chateaudemachecoul.over-blog.com
  • http://www.frenchchateau.net/chateaux-of-pays-de-la-loire/chateau-de-machecoul.html
Château de Machecoul
2 Rue de Nantes
Machecoul, 44270
France
46.991298, -1.814175
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Grotesques of the Chapel of Bethlehem

Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau, France

miles away

House in the Loire

Couëron, France

miles away

Passage du Gois

Barbâtre, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 692
Stories 74

Nearby Places

The Grotesques of the Chapel of Bethlehem

Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau, France

miles away

House in the Loire

Couëron, France

miles away

Passage du Gois

Barbâtre, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 692
Stories 74

Related Places

  • Caisteal Maol

    Isle of Skye, Scotland

    Caisteal Maol

    This ruined castle is said to be the legendary keep of a Viking princess.

  • Coventry, England

    Caludon Castle Ruins

    This ruin in a suburban park may be the place where Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was first performed.

  • Alamut Castle.

    Roudbar Alamout, Iran

    Alamut Castle

    This ruined fortress was the stronghold for a persecuted medieval leader and his infamous Assassins.

  • The medieval Church of Saint Nicholas.

    Ireland

    The Lost Town of Newtown Jerpoint (Jerpoint Park)

    Local legend says the remains of Father Christmas lie within the medieval grounds.

  • Tynemouth Castle.

    Tynemouth, England

    Tynemouth Priory and Castle

    Royal burial place of the kings of ancient Britain.

  • Tharandt, Germany

    Tharandt Castle Ruin

    Near Dresden, a scenic medieval castle ruin offers atmospheric views, educational ties to forestry, and a glimpse into Saxony’s past.

  • Quaint, cosy, and possibly haunted.

    Colnbrook, England

    The Ostrich Inn

    One of England’s oldest and most haunted inns may have inspired the legend of Sweeney Todd.

  • Foss Castle

    Hutton Mulgrave, England

    Foss Castle

    Almost nothing but earthworks remain of this long-lost castle.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.