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Origin and history

The mansion of Bellou, located in the village of the old town of Bellou (now Livarot-Pays-d'Auge), dates mainly from the sixteenth century, although its origin dates back to the second half of the 15th century. Initially modest with two pieces per level, it was enlarged in the 16th and 17th centuries, winning in majesty thanks to successive work campaigns. The south facade, adorned with a protruding pavilion and skylights, contrasts with the austere northern facade, with a classic porch and cylindrical turrets. Inside, 16th century murals, depicting hunting scenes and local saints, decorate the sandstones.

The fief belonged first to the family Du Merle, then to Le Michel (XVIth century) and the La Pallu (XVIIIth century). Georges Bisson, Mayor of Livarot, owned it before the remains of murals were rediscovered in the 2000s. The manor house is surrounded by exceptional commons: an octagonal dovecote of 1560 in wooden strips, a two-tiered press (dated between 15th and 17th century), and stables of 1720 extended by a Renaissance-decorated cartretery. These elements, as well as the mansion itself, have been protected as historical monuments since 1923 and 2004.

Ranked a historic monument in 1923 for the house and in 2004 for the press and its cellar, the Bellou mansion illustrates the seigneurial architecture of the country of Auge. Its dovecote, typical of noble dwellings, and its press, witness to local agricultural activities, underline its anchor in Norman rural history. The interior paintings, rare for the period, and the half-timbered structures make a preserved example of the aristocratic habitat of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

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