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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Venelle-Dossin mansion is a 16th-century private building located in Orbec, Calvados department, Normandy. Partly classified and inscribed in the Historical Monuments, it is distinguished by its turret decorated with sculptures, typical of the Norman Renaissance. This lookout, named oriol, served both as a watchroom and as a symbol of prestige for its owner, François Morin, squire and lieutenant general of cavalry.

The turret, classified since 1932, houses a staircase by means of a screw, initially distributing two houses in square, one of which has disappeared. The current manor house, nestled between the Dossin and the Three Crescent venals, maintains a wood-paned facade, as well as a closed garden of wrought iron walls and gates. Its architecture reflects Orbec's prosperity after the Hundred Years' War, when the city, elevated to the rank of bailiff in 1583, attracted bourgeois and literate.

The Venelle-Dossin mansion illustrates the urban development of Normandy in the 16th century, marked by the construction of wooden panels. Its staircase and turret, works by artisans who have also worked at the nearby Old Manoir, testify to the local know-how. Today, the ensemble, mixing medieval remains and brick additions, offers an overview of the architectural evolution of the region.

The protection of the monument is part of a desire to preserve the Norman heritage: the turret has been classified since August 10, 1932, while the facade on the Dossin venal has been inscribed since November 17, 1932. These measures underline its historical and artistic importance in the country of Auge.

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