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Origin and history

The castle of Amfreville, built between the 14th and 16th centuries on the bases of an 11th century fortress founded in the time of William the Conqueror, dominates a marsh of the Cotentin. It was the center of a seigneury raised in Marquisat in 1686 for Charles-François Davy d-Amfreville, lieutenant-general of Louis XIV. Its architecture reflects successive transformations, including a 15th-XVIth-century doorway and a 18th-century home.

The foundation of the castle dates back to Richard de Reviers († 1107), lord of Vernon and founder of the Montebourg Abbey. In the 14th century, Guillaume Avenel des Biards was the lord, then the fief passed through alliances to the Tardes, Mouy, and Poërier families (1604). In 1615, the seigneury became baronie before being erected as a marquisate in 1686 for the Davy d'Amfreville, family of sailors and cardinals. After the Revolution, part of the castle was destroyed.

The estate includes a 15th-16th century fortified gate, a 14th century Gothic chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame-de-la-Coudre, and two houses: one from the 16th century, the other built around 1740 by architect Louis Ironier. The moat, fed by winter floods, girds an almond platform. The poterno, chapel and adjacent building have been listed as historical monuments since 1965.

The castle illustrates the evolution of a medieval fortress as a seigneurial residence, with defensive elements (douves, murderers) and comfort facilities (galeries, private chapel). His history was linked to the great Norman families and political transformations, such as the liking of Marquisat under Louis XIV. After post-revolutionary destruction, it was purchased in the 19th century by the Sesmaisons.

Together, partly in ruins, preserves traces of its military and aristocratic past. The disused chapel presents a rampant portal and ogival vaults. The dovecote and the commons, partially rebuilt in the 20th century, complete this testimony of Norman history, marked by conflicts, alliances and architectural adaptations to successive periods.

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