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This enormous throwing machine can send balls of 13 kilo in a ray of 120 meter, and was used against fortifications during the crusades in the XIIth and XIIIth century.

It works thanks to only one contra weight (chest) with a volume of 500 kilo on a bow.

This chest can be filled according to one’s needs with soil, stones or blocks of led.

The leather bag (with ball) is put on a wooden beam, on a sort of sledge, which is greased with talc, so that it can be thrown supple and in a straight line.

The rhythm of shooting is 5 to 6 balls per hour. The Mangonneau is efficient, but irregular, so that it will gradually be beaten by the Trébuchet, its variant, of which the contra weight on the bow was removed and the bow itself was made heavier.

This is the last medieval throwing machine of this type and has a contra weight.

It is smaller than its direct previous ones (Mangonneau and Trébuchet) and is fastened on only one carrier. It has two wooden chests, which are suspended on both sides of the lower part of the bow and give the contra weight; this explains its suggestive and imaginary name.

The total weight of the contents of its chest amount 1 ton, which makes it possible to throw balls of 20 kilo up to 200 meters.

The rhythm of shooting is 3 to 4 balls per hour.

The cannon (Cerbatane from “Cerbottane” in Italian) at Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire shows how important its role was in the artillery on the country.

It has a long vaulted form of wrought iron. Our cannon is provided with iron at he back, in order to simplify the loading.

An average caliber fired stone balls and later on iron balls, which were probably heated in special ovens (therefore the expression “to shoot with red balls”). This method was meant to set castles on fire.

During the shooting in Saint-Brisson the explosion produces a substantial recoil and so much noise that people have to plug their ears and assistants often get a great fright. 

Le Mangonneau

Le Couillard

La Cerbatane

This one has been composed once again with the help of miniatures of the medieval manuscript of “Scylitzes” from the XIIth century.

The Pierrière is lighter, more simple, but also more rapid. Its propulsion power is secured with the help of  four bowmen, with ropes, and based on the elasticity of the bow, which is made of young, recently cut down trees. A fifth shooter, at the foot of the machine, has the task to hold the leather bag with the call and lead it into the right direction.

The heavier the crew (as far as weight) the better, the further the ball goes : 5 to 10 kilo reaches about a distance of 50 meters. The stones itself need not to be polished up : rough stones are sufficient.

When they threw three to six balls per hour with the Mangonneau of the Couillard, with this human driving machine it was even possible to throw three to four stones per minute.



At the end of each shooting demonstration even the most brave among the spectators can change into medieval artillerists and find themselves the suitability of the Pierrière.

Children often present themselves, and afterwards their joy is clearly visible, which means the most important reward for the local volunteering shooters.

La Pierrière

War armaments : Try the catapult yourself.

To know how you can reach the castle of Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire you just switch on the Google map and hopefully we can welcome you soon.

We wish you a pleasant journey.

The shop of the castle of St- Brisson-sur-Loire offers you a rich amount of nice and original articles to take home as a  present or as a souvenir.

It is situated right at the entrance of the castle, at your left hand.

Catapult shooting for children

Activity: to dress up as a knight or princess, to may assist in catapult shooting in that disguise.

The children are allowed to take their disguise home.


Price: 6.00 Euro.


All Tuesdays and Thursdays in July and August at 15.00 h., where after  assisting in catapult shooting at 16.00 h.

The dressed up visit of the children to the castle.

Activity: the discovery of life in former times in a castle; organizing tasks, the living together of the lords of the castle and the servants, and the funny stories about this all.

Price: 4.30 Euro


All Wednesdays and Fridays in July and August at 14.30 h.