Construction begins 1876 (≈ 1876)
Launch by Camille Albert for Alexandre Le Grand.
1886–1888
Construction of crenellated towers
Construction of crenellated towers 1886–1888 (≈ 1887)
Water castles and farm built model.
1911
Added Honor Stairs
Added Honor Stairs 1911 (≈ 1911)
Major transformation by Camille Albert.
1923
Addition of a gallery
Addition of a gallery 1923 (≈ 1923)
Last modification known by Albert.
6 août 1997
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 6 août 1997 (≈ 1997)
Home and tower protection.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Logis; monumental gate of the farm with adjacent buildings and crenellated towers (cad. Countermoulins A 33; Thiergeville A 30): registration by order of 6 August 1997
Key figures
Camille Albert - Architect
Manufacturer and transformer of the castle (1876–1923).
Alexandre Le Grand - Sponsor and founder
Founder of Benedictine, initial owner.
Origin and history
The château de Gruville, located in Contremoulins in Normandy, was built from 1876 by the architect Camille Albert for Alexandre Le Grand, founder of the Benedictine society of Fécamp. This asymmetric house, built on a massed plane, uses various materials such as brick, wood panel and slate. It embodies the architectural eclecticism of the late 19th century, mixing medieval influences and technical modernity.
In 1911 Camille Albert added an honour staircase, and in 1923 a gallery was awarded, marking two major phases of transformation. The castle is part of a complete agricultural estate, including a model farm and castles in the shape of crenellated towers (1886–88), symbols of a desire to combine functionality and neo-medieval aesthetics.
Ranked a Historic Monument in 1997, the site protects its home, monumental portal and crenellated towers. These elements reflect Alexander The Great's ambition to create a coherent architectural ensemble, both a seigneurial residence and the heart of an innovative agricultural farm for the time.
The architect Camille Albert, key figure of the project, deploys a hybrid style, combining historical references and contemporary solutions. The castle thus illustrates the social and economic dynamics of industrial Normandy, where heritage and modernity intersect.
Today, the château of Gruville remains a testament to the golden age of Norman agricultural estates, where the aristocracy and the industrial bourgeoisie combine architectural prestige and rational land management. Its listing in the Historical Monuments Inventory highlights its heritage and historical value.
