Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Cerisy-la-Salle Castle, classified as a historical monument, is located in the Manche, Normandy. Built at the beginning of the seventeenth century (the lintels of the farm bear the dates 1613/1617 and 1625), it is attributed to Jean Richer. Inside, a large room retains a painted decor depicting vegetables and flowers. The estate includes outbuildings (grange, pigeon, cart) and the remains of an ancient medieval castle (castle, barbacan).

Since 1952, the castle has been home to the Centre culturel international de Cerisy-la-Salle (CCIC), founded by Anne Heurgon-Desjardins, daughter of Paul Desjardins, organizer of the Décades de Pontigny (1910-1939). These intellectual meetings, held at Pontigny Abbey, brought together personalities to discuss humanism, philosophy or politics. After the Second World War, Anne Heurgon-Desjardins restored the castle, damaged by the conflict, and translated the spirit of Pontigny into annual symposia from May to October.

Cerisy's symposia, heirs to the Décades, have attracted artists, researchers and intellectuals from all over the world since 1952. More than 800 symposia were organised up to 2020, covering various themes (literature, science, politics, arts). The proceedings of many symposia are published, notably in the Cerisy/Pontigny, Cerisy Archives and Cerisy/Normandie collections. The centre is run by the Civil Society of Cerisy Castle and the Association of Friends of Pontigny-Cerisy, recognized as a public utility in 1972.

The management of the CCIC was successively carried out by Anne Heurgon-Desjardins (1952-1977), then his granddaughters Édith Heurgon and Catherine Peyrou (1977-2006), accompanied by Jean Ricardou for cultural programming (1977-2016). Today, Edith Heurgon and his nephews, with a team led by Arnaud Chauvel, continue this tradition. The castle, a private property, combines architectural heritage (classified in 1995) and intellectual influence, while offering guest rooms and room rentals.

CCIC maintains close links with the Normandy region through a regional coordination commission. The seminars regularly address local topics, as evidenced by the Cerisy/Normandie collection. The centre is part of a long history of intellectual encounters, from Pontigny (1910) to Cerisy, marking French and international cultural life.

Future

Since its creation, the Cerisy International Cultural Centre has organized more than 700 symposia until 2017.

External links