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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Vicques is a building located in the Calvados department, in the commune of Vicques in Normandy. It stands at the site of an ancient 12th century castle, mentioned by Arcisse de Caumont, and of which moat remain. The present castle was built between the second half of the 16th century and the first half of the 17th century, marking a transition between medieval architecture and Renaissance influences. The site is crossed by the Roman route Jort-Exmes and the river Dives, highlighting its historic strategic importance.

The chapel of the castle, dated from the late 15th or 17th century, houses polychrome statues of the 15th and 16th centuries, including a Notre-Dame in front, as well as a wooden fence of the early 17th century in its choir. The dovecote, built at the end of the sixteenth century, and the commons, erected in 1744, testify to the agricultural activity of the seigneurial estate. These elements, alongside the facades and roofs of the communes, were inscribed in the Historical Monuments on April 11, 1975. The current home dates back to the early 19th century, when the castle underwent extensive work.

The castle is built of Caen stone and limestone, typical materials of the region. It preserves defensive remains such as a scauguette and machicoulis, while its chapel adopts a baroque style. The family of Croissanville, owner in the 17th and 18th centuries, marked the history of the estate. The site, still visible avenue du Château à Vicques, illustrates the architectural and social evolution of a Norman seigneurial estate over nearly nine centuries.

Historical sources, including Flohic Éditions (2001) and the Mérimée and Monumentum bases, confirm its heritage inscription. The castle remains a representative example of Norman castles transformed over time, combining medieval heritage, Renaissance and modern modifications. Its dovecote and its communes, dated precisely, also underline the economic role of the estate in local agricultural production.

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