Château de Châteaubriant

Pays de la Loire · France · Castle

Every October 16 at midnight, Françoise de Foix is said to return in a ghostly procession through the castle.

The castle of Châteaubriant combines a medieval fortress with an elegant Renaissance wing and was home to Françoise de Foix, mistress of King Francis I. She died mysteriously on 16 October 1537 in the "golden chamber" — by tradition murdered by her jealous husband Jean de Laval, and a stain on the floor is pointed out as her blood. Every year on the anniversary at midnight, a spectral procession of knights and monks is said to escort her spirit through the castle. The site is open to visitors, and the haunted date has become a local institution.

FAQ

Where is Château de Châteaubriant located?

Château de Châteaubriant is in Pays de la Loire, France.

Image: Dennis G. Jarvis / CC BY-SA 2.0 — Wikimedia Commons