Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Amfreville-sur-Iton was built around 1775 for Antoine-Jean-Baptiste Guyot d'Amfreville, a renowned agronomist. This 18th-century castle is distinguished by its unusual location: it is erected on an island of Iton, a 132 km stream crossing Normandy. The building reflects the refined architecture of its time, combining residential function and social prestige, characteristic of rural aristocratic homes under the Old Regime.

At the end of the 19th century (1875-1880), the castle underwent major changes under the direction of architect Georges-Paul Roussel, based in Louviers. The modifications include the addition of high stack stumps, zinc roofs, a revisited interior decoration, and especially the transformation of the surroundings into an English park, with winding alleys, groves and related buildings (including a cottage). These developments illustrate the enthusiasm of the era for landscaped gardens, inspired by British models.

The castle is partially classified as a historical monument in two stages: the facades and roofs of the farm in 1977, then the main body, the chalet, the stables-remises and a cellar located in the nearby town of Acquigny in 1994. These protections highlight the heritage value of the site, both for its architecture and its integration into a preserved river landscape. Today, the estate remains a private property, witness to local history and the evolution of architectural tastes between the 18th and 19th centuries.

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