Château de Boistissandeau

The origins of the estate date back to the 13th century. The current “new castle” was built between 1570 and 1620 by the Olivereau family. In the 18th century, the gardens were laid out and later restored by landscape architect Achille Duchêne. A significant owner was Jean-Baptiste Laurent d’Hillerin (1704–1779), a scientist who expanded the castle, created terraced gardens and orangeries, and hosted the naturalist René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur. An event occurred on January 31, 1794, during the Vendée War, when the lady of the castle, Marie-Agathe d’Hillerin, and her daughters were murdered by troops. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the La Morinière family carried out restorations. From 1942 to 2003, the Brothers of Saint-Gabriel occupied the castle, first as a novitiate and later as a retirement home. In 2003, the Vendée department acquired the property, which has been managed by the Communauté de Communes du Pays des Herbiers since October 2024.

The castle is located in Les Herbiers in the Vendée department, in the Pays de la Loire region of France, at an altitude of approximately 114 meters above sea level.

Château de Boistissandeau is accessible to visitors and is currently undergoing restoration. The facades, roofs, a Renaissance fireplace, and the formal gardens have been partially listed as historical monuments since 1958.