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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Canteleu Castle, renamed Château des Deux Lions, is a seigneurial residence built around 1635 for Nicolas Langlois de Motteville, adviser and president of the House of Accounts of Normandy. The plans are attributed to the architect Le Mercier, and the castle is one of the most beautiful residences in Haute-Normandie. It is built on a dominant terrace Rouen and the Seine loop, offering an exceptional panorama. Access is via a walkway lined with two stone lions, emblematic symbols of the estate.

In the 18th century, the castle changed hands several times. He was first owned by Françoise Bertaut, then by Jean-Baptiste Langlois de Colmoulins, a member of the Grand Council. In 1748 he was acquired by François-Nicolas Quillebeuf, an anobliable Rouennais merchant. After his death in 1751, his son Jean-François Quillebeuf inherited the estate until his bankruptcy in 1776, resulting in the separate sale of seigneurial rights and manor houses. The castle, in a state of disrepair, is partially demolished by its new owner, Charles-Antoine Élie-Lefebvre, who remodels it in a neoclassical style.

In 1779 Charles-Antoine Élie-Lefebvre, a former merchant and alderman of Rouen, bought the castle and undertook important works. The wings, dome and upper floor of the central pavilion are cut down, as is the original roof, replaced by a neoclassical roof. In the 19th century, the Élie Lefebvre family, including Charles Louis Élie Lefebvre (Mayor of Rouen died in 1861) and his son Victor Alfred (Mayor of Canteleu), retained the estate. In 1998, it still belonged to their descendants.

Today, the castle is the property of the Rouenese entrepreneur Michel Mallet, who restored it as a welcoming place for receptions, seminars and stays. The furniture, partially classified as a historical monument, includes Empire-style pieces, such as eight white and gold wooden armchairs signed by cabinetmaker Jeanselme. The castle, registered as a historical monument since 1948, remains a private property but occasionally visits via the Rouen tourist office.

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