Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Aygues is a castle villa built in 1866 by Havre architect Théodore Huchon for Amédée Boyer, inventor of the water of Mélisse des Carmes. This emblematic monument of the "eclectic" seaside style of the Second Empire is distinguished by its three facades with various inspirations (neo-gothic, Italian, neo-Louis XIII), unified by a rigorous symmetry. The park, built in the "Alphand-Davioud" style, includes fake rock, a greenhouse, a cooler and a gloriette with views of the sea and the cliffs of Etretat. The sources present in the domain inspired its current name, adopted in 1913 ("The Aygues").

The house welcomed royal personalities, including the queens of Spain Marie Christine de Bourbon-Siciles (regent) and her daughter Isabelle II, who stayed there several times in the 19th century. In 1880, Prince Józef Lubomirski, second husband of the widow Boyer, received Isabelle II, who rented the property in 1881. The interior decorations, signed by the Rouenese artist Ferdinand Marrou, include carved woodwork and a monumental chandelier. The exterior grilles, also with his hand, complete this refined set.

In 1913, the castle was acquired by Count Georges-Albert Puyou de Pouvourville, an officer and sinologist renowned under the pseudonym of Matgioi. Today he is privately owned and partially guided. The facades and roofs have been listed as historical monuments since 1997, and the surroundings, classified as a natural site registered in 1934, protect this exceptional architectural and landscape heritage.

The castle of the Aygues embodies the golden age of Norman seaside resorts, where the European aristocracy and industrial elites were found. Its stylistic eclecticism and its history linked to royal courts make it a unique testimony of this time, between architectural fascists and worldly life. The residence also illustrates the influence of local architects, such as Huchon, and artisans of art, like Marrou, whose works are a lasting sign of the regional heritage.

Future

Visit in July and August and Heritage Day

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