Tiffauges is a commune in the Vendée, in the Pays de la Loire region, 20 km west of Cholet, on the edge of Maine-et-Loire.
Its territory of nearly 10 km² is crossed by the Sèvre Nantes river, which constitutes its "northern" limit, and its tributary, the Crûme.
In a landscaped environment belonging to the Vendée bocage, rich in sensitive natural spaces, the village was formed at the start of the second millennium.
Belonging from the 11th century to the Viscounts of Thouars, it is one of them, Geoffroy de Thouars, who built the castle of Tiffauges in the 12th century. The inhabitants settle down below, protected by a rampart, along the Crûme.
The story changes when Catherine de Thouars marries Gilles de Rais in 1420, who fights alongside Joan of Arc before retiring for a time to Tiffauges. Nicknamed Bluebeard, criminal and cruel, he was condemned to death and executed in 1440 in Nantes. His widow remarries with Jean de Vendôme who remodels the castle. However, the building was set on fire in 1569 and then dismantled in 1626 by order of the king.
The village is still very affected during the wars of Vendée, in 1794: Tiffauges is razed and only ruins remain, certainly noble, of the castle.
The monument remains today the main tourist asset of the city. Enhanced, its remains host shows and demonstrations of medieval war machines.
If we add the pleasant environment and the cachet of the village of more than 1600 inhabitants, this explains why Tiffauges is one of the "must see" of the region!
Now owned by the departmental council, the old castle of Barbe Bleue remains the major heritage element of the locality. Even set on fire and then dismantled, the medieval fortress still proved to be a strategic point during the Vendée wars in 1794.
Now, the ruins have been consolidated and work has been highlighting for several years the bases of towers, gates or sections of ramparts. Vast in size, the site protected as historical monuments since 1957 now houses a conservatory of medieval war machines, unique in Europe. Dedicated to attack or defense, these are some 15 machines that are on display and can operate to the delight of the public. In fact, demonstrations of real shooting are presented, in a fun and educational way, but also scientific thanks to thematic tours. This conservatory also testifies to the evolution of techniques. A huge lifting crane used for construction is also on display.
Tours of the castle are punctuated by shows (with demonstrations, films, costumed scenes, games). Open every day from April to August (with nightlife and show on Wednesdays from mid-July to mid-August), from Wednesday to Sunday from September 1 to 15. Price: from 6 to 14 euros. Family pass possible. Information on +33 2 51 67 60 00.
Other heritage elements (mostly linked to the castle and the medieval past of the locality) are worth seeing.
Let us quote the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church built in 1855, neo-Gothic style, which replaced a Romanesque building that suffered during the Revolution. Under the choir, a low chapel is dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. The church of Saint-Nicolas, for its part, dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, is now closed to the public and must be the subject of consolidation work.
As you stroll through Tiffauges, the former Place du Champ de Foire aux Coxes bears witness to the region's agricultural past. At the foot of the old fortress, the rue du Prieuré where the grant was located, the main street where houses still have granite frames and cornices, the rue des Moines where religious and weavers were installed, or the rue de l'Aumônerie where a leper colony and the town hall were located are not lacking in character.
This is also the case for the rue des Douves, built in the 19th century on the route of the old dry moats dug in the granite, protecting the castle.
Finally, we can mention the old halls, erected in the 15th century, modernized and then converted for a time into a fire station!
In a completely different register, the watchmaking museum bears witness to the presence in the municipality of a company specializing in this field for 150 years! Clocks were made there for churches, belfries and other buildings, a decree of 1850 requiring communities to display the time for the public! Electronics and computers having overcome the mechanisms of yesteryear, the company's workshop has been converted into a museum retracing the history of this craft and presenting a number of clocks. Open during Heritage Days or by appointment. Contact +33 6 88 75 79 60.
Other leisure activities accessible to Tiffauges: a game of tennis (reservation of the court with the club on +33 6 23 59 97 82) or a game… of fishing while enjoying the banks of the Sèvre nantaise or de la Crûme (information on suitable sites and regulations by contacting the local company on +33 2 51 67 05 83).
Finally, for hiking enthusiasts, once the rich built and historical heritage has been discovered, trails allow you to apprehend the surrounding green countryside (bocage landscapes, wetlands, river courses). The loops generally include incursions into neighboring towns, which belong to the same Pays de Mortagne sur Sèvre. Maps and information on +33 2 51 65 11 32.