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Origin and history

The Tourps Castle, located in Anneville-en-Saire in the English Channel, is an 18th-century residence built near the ruins of a feudal castle founded under William the Conqueror (ca. 1050). The latter, rebuilt after 1346, was destroyed during the Wars of Religion. The Tourps seigneury, created in 1050, covered several northern communes and changed hands several times, notably after conflicts such as the Edward III (1346) or the League Wars (XVI century).

In the 16th century, the castle was the refuge of François de La Cour, leader of the leaguers of the Val de Saire, besieged and then destroyed in 1591 by the troops of Henri IV. After his death in 1592, the seigneury passed between various families, including the Court, before being rebuilt in the 18th century. The new castle, of classical style, preserves elements such as a feudal motte and a private chapel dedicated to Saint Gilles, erected in 1669.

The monument has been partially listed as a historical monument since 2005, protecting its facades, roofs, interior decorations, as well as outbuildings such as a press, a garden pavilion and a enclosed vegetable garden. It reflects the architectural evolution and the conflicts that marked the Cotentin, from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

In the 19th century, the castle passed by alliance of the Vauquelin to the Mesnildot. It was the place where Jean-François de Vauquelin learned of the death of his two sons when Quiberon landed (1795). Its history reflects the political and social upheavals of Normandy, from crusades to the French Revolution.

The present building, with its central forebody, perron and triangular pediment, illustrates the influence of classicism in the 18th century. A wing was added in the 19th century, slightly changing its initial appearance. The chapel, the vegetable garden and the commons complete a coherent architectural complex, anchored in a landscape marked by feudal and military history.

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