Bretteville-Saint-Laurent – Chateau de Bretteville
The Bretteville Castle at Bretteville-Saint-Laurent in Normandy, France is a little jewel and it can be visited.
– Castles
The Normandy region is very rich with castles, manors, villas and fortresses. Some 1700 are recorded in the national historical database, but many are just ruins.
Ermenouville – Chateau de Mesnil-Geoffroy
Built: 17th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: Yes, only the gardensNotable: Property of Prince and Princess Kayali (Syria). The castle has not been modified since the 18th century. Known for the largest rose garden in Normandy.Web: None In a small town in Upper Normandy called Ermenouville you will find this quite spectacular castle. Ermenouville is a very small …
Gueures Castle
The castle of Gueures in Upper Normandy lies in a quiet and peaceful village close to the sea. It’s in private hands, but also is a gite.
Sainte-Adresse Castle – Villa La Roseraie
Built: end 19th centuryStatus: PublicVisitable?: Yes the grounds only for freeNotable: Was the official residence of the King of Belgium during WWIWeb: – Deep in the rich and wealthy city of Sainte-Adresse, next to the city of Le Havre, there are a few luxurious “villas” from yesteryear. Many of these mansions date back to the …
Saint-Germain-de-Livet Castle
Built: 15th centuryStatus: Public/MuseumVisitable?: Yes (1st Sunday of the month is free)Notable: xxxxWeb: Chateau de Saint-Germain-de-Livet In a small 800 person village close to Lisieux is a castle that looks like a fairytale castle, the kind kids would draw. The village is called Saint-Germain-de -Livet, and the castle dates back to the 15th century. The castle was donated …
Le Breuil-en-Auge – Chateau du Breuil and Calvados Distillery
Built: 16th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: Yes, for a fee, gardens and distilleryNotable: Calvados distilleryWeb: Chateau du Breuil Located in the midst of the Calvados region (Normandy) you will find a pretty castle, the Chateau du Breuil, that has been since 1954 a distillery that transforms apples into Calvados (an apple brandy). Located in a 1000 people village, Le …
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Butot-Venesville Castle – Chateau du Profil
The Chateau (castle) du Profil at Butot-Venesville is hidden very deep inside the Upper Normandy countryside. The castle is a gite (in other words you can rent it).
Hautot-L’Auvray Castle
Built: unknownStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: –Web: – This little gem is located alongside a long and straight country road. After hours of research, I could not find any information about it. So I do not know when it was built and if it’s private (which I’m sure it is). It’s not even in the National Monuments …
Varengeville-sur-Mer Castle
Built: 1883Status: Special Events HotelVisitable?: Yes, as a guestNotable: Close to the beachWeb: Chateau de Varengeville The castle located at Varengeville-sur-Mer, close to the Normandy coast, was built in 1883. The castle itself, though in private hands, can be rented for special occasions, like marriages or seminars. But please note, it’s not a hotel, so …
Thiergeville Castle – Chateau de Fiquainville
Built: 17th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: –Web: – The beautiful and impressive chateau de Fiquainville is nicely hidden from onlookers, high up the hills of the Valmont valley and river. The castle was built on top of ruins of an older castle, but not much more information could be found. It was built during the 17th …
Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer Castle
Built: 17th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: –Web: – Located in a small beach town resort between Veules-les-Roses and Dieppe, slightly away from the coast, you will see this beautiful castle alongside the winding road. You can’t miss it if ever you are driving along that part of the Normandy coast. The castle is totally private and can …
Malleville les Gres Castle
Built: 17th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: Built in the 17th century, buy extensively modified in the 19th centuryWeb: – The castle in the very small village of Malleville-les-Gres in Upper Normandy is in private hands and can not be visited. The castle itself was built in the 17th century, though most of the updates and modifications were …
Saint-Martin-Aux-Buneaux Castle
Built: 17th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: –Web: – This castle, located in the small village of Saint Martin-Aux-Buneaux, Normandy, is in dire need for some TLC (Tender Loving Care). Built in the 17th century, with the gate built the century before and with several extensions made in the 19th century, this private residence has for the …
Le Havre Castle – Villa Maritime
Built: 1890Status: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: Visible from the beachWeb: – The Le Havre Villa Maritime has a colourful past. Built in 1890 for a wealthy woman, the Villa was sold and taken over several times. The Villa is located alongside the Le Havre Beach, accessible by the beach road and above. During World War II, the …
Auberville-la-Manuel Castle
Built: 15th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: Part of a farmWeb: – The Auberville castle, located in the small town of Auberville-la-Manuel, is in private hands and forms part of a large farm. The main gate is impressive with its gatehouse and two towers. The castle itself was built in the 15th century. Outside the castle there …
Villequier Castle – Chateau de Villequier
Built: 1784Status: Private (rentable)Visitable?: Yes as customerNotable: unrestricted and impressive view over the Seine river and valleyWeb: – In the village of Villequier, up on the hills overlooking the Seine river valley in Normandy are several castles and manors. One of them, the biggest, is the Chateau de Villequier. The Chateau de Villequier was built …
Fecamp Castle Ruins
The castle ruins in Fecamp show that once upon a time, the castle was very impressive.
Oherville Castle – Auffay Manor
Built: 15th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: SometimesNotable: At times, in the attic, there’s a children theatreWeb: – The Renaissance-style Manor of Auffay is located in the small village of Oherville (Upper Normandy), on top of the Durdent valley. Built in the 15th century and updated regularly with new additions, the Manor is currently in private hands. There is …
Le Havre Castle – Chateau des Gadelles
Built: 1886Status: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: The castle is modelled on the Arco de Santa Maria castle in Spain, it survived WWII bombingsWeb: – Despite the heavy bombings during WWII, Le Havre still has one of its beautiful castles mostly intact; the Gadelles castle. The “Chateau des Gadelles” is also known as “Porte de Burgos” after the 14th …
Etretat Castle – Domaine St. Clair Donjon Castle and Villa
Built: 19th centuryStatus: Hotel/RestaurantVisitable?: Yes, as a customerNotable: Overlooks the beach resort town of Etretat, each room is unique. The restaurant is a 1 Star Michelin rated restaurant.Web: Le Donjon The name is ominous for a hotel, since that is what the castle is. The Donjon means “the dungeon”. Located in the most popular tourist …
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Le Tilleul Castle – Chateau de Frefosse
Chateau de Frefosse in Tilleul, Normandy (right next to Etretat) is one of my favourite castles. It’s almost a palace.
Valmont Castle – Chateau d’Estouteville
Built: 11th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: Name of the castle used for the “Count of Valmont” in the movie “Dangerous Liaisons”Web: – The Valmont castle is most impressive; a mixture between a fortress and a castle, perched high on a hill overlooking the town of Valmont in Upper Normandy. The families who owned it were numerous (including …
Sassetot-le-Mauconduit Castle – Chateau de Sissi
The castle, recently renamed to Chateau de Sissi, is to be found in the small village Sassetot-le-Mauconduit in Normandy. It’s biggest claim to fame is that the Austrian Empress Sissi stayed there (and is rumoured to having given birth to an illegitimate child).
Paluel Castle – Chateau de Janville
The beautiful Janville castle in Paluel, Normandy is located right next to a WWII R&R camp and airport (and a kilometer away from a nuclear reactor).