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Origin and history

Houlley Castle is a 17th and 18th century building built on the town of Courtonne-la-Meurdrac in Calvados. It was built at the initiative of Adrien du Houlley, Lord of Courtonne and several other fiefdoms, who acquired the estate in 1609. This castle, as well as its outbuildings, reflects the influence of local noble families throughout the centuries, passing from the Houlley to their descendants by alliance.

The transmission of the castle occurred within the lineage of the Houlley, with Adrien (father, then son, then grandson), before Cécile-Adrienne du Houlley, the last direct heir, brought it in dowry to the family of Rioult in the mid-18th century. This marriage with Nicolas de Rioult, lord of Neuville, marked the beginning of a new era for the estate, preserved by this family until around 1920. The site, including the commons and the dovecote, was officially protected in 1965.

Architecturally, Houlley Castle illustrates the stylistic evolutions of the 17th and 18th centuries, mixing residential functions and symbols of seigneurial power. Its designation as historic monuments in 1965 underscores its heritage value, both for its family history and for its role in the Norman cultural landscape. The sources, such as the works of Philippe Déterville, underline its importance among the castles of the Pays d'Auge.

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