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Origin and history

The Maupertus mansion, built in the 15th and 16th centuries, was built by the Pirou family. It is a typical example of Henri IV-Louis XIII style seigneurial residences, with its protruding pavilions, sill windows and Renaissance fireplaces. Inside, a 16th century limestone fireplace, decorated with foliage and animals, bears witness to the refinement of the period. The commons and a chapel, added in the seventeenth century, complete the whole, accessible by a double porch.

In the 17th century, the Jallot de Gonneville family expanded the mansion. François-Antoine de Longaulnay, governor of Carentan and heir to the estate, stayed there only once in 1678. The mansion remained occupied by farmers until the 19th century. In 1840 Antoine-Constantin de Longaulnay inherited it, then his daughter, Marie-Barbe, sold it in 1887 to Madame Veuve Antoine Berteil, marking the end of family possession.

The mansion has been partially listed as a historical monument since 1978, protecting its facades, roofs, the courtyard well and three remarkable chimneys. Its austere architecture, marked by functional openings, contrasts with the richness of interior decorations. The chapel and the commons, as well as the central well, underline its historical importance in the Cotentin.

Located 200 metres from the Church of Saint Martin in Maupertus-sur-Mer, the mansion embodies the architectural and social evolution of Normandy, from the wars of Religion to the Industrial Revolution. Its present state reflects successive transformations, especially in the nineteenth century, while preserving medieval and Renaissance elements.

Historical sources, such as Edmond Thin's work or the Merimée base, confirm his role in the local heritage. The mansion, although partially modified, remains a testimony to the lifestyles of Norman rural elites, between agricultural management and social representation.

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