The castle of La Bourbansais

Built on the site of an ancient Roman villa, the Château de la Bourbansais as we know it today dates from 1583. Thanks to its chapel, its cellar, its large dovecote and its park decorated with beautiful formal gardens, this superb estate is one of the most beautiful in the region. Entirely refurbished in the 18th century, the decoration and furniture of the interiors date from this period. Of particular note is the discovery of the Blue Room, a room of advantageous proportions with exceptional woodwork designed by the cabinetmaker Mancel.

Listed as a Historic Monument, the castle is today the property of Olivier de Lorgeril. Representing the 19th generation of his family to manage the estate, a visit to the castle presents the daily life of his ancestors. It also introduces us to the history of a company that has greatly contributed to the development of the wealth of this lineage of skilled sailors: the Compagnie des Indes.

Today, if the estate welcomes nearly 140,000 visitors every year, it is also and above all thanks to the bright idea that the grandparents of the current owner had: to transform part of the garden into a zoo. Fifty years ago, Régis de Lorgeril and his wife Josette Barbezet decided to revitalize the family estate by introducing visitors to some exotic animals.

Initially modest, this activity has grown greatly over time. Today, more than 400 boarders populate the aisles of this unique zoo in the world. Among them, lions, tigers, camels, giraffes but also 10 different species of monkeys and many birds.

Every day, numerous shows and various educational workshops aimed at raising public awareness of environmental protection are organized in the decor of this beautiful Renaissance residence.