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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Fontaine-Étoupefour, also known as Château de Fontaine, is a partially ruined residence in the commune of Fontaine-Étoupefour, in the Calvados department, Normandy. Built around 1470 by François de Vaux, a chamberlain of three kings of France, it bears witness to late medieval architecture. The site includes a 15th century entrance castle, restored in 1950, as well as remains of 17th century buildings, reflecting the successive transformations of the estate.

The Renaissance house body, erected in 1583 by Jean Le Valois d'Escoville, grandson of the builder of the hotel d'Escoville in Caen, fell in ruins in the late 19th century after a fire under the Second Empire. The castle also preserves remarkable hydraulic elements, such as moat, hydraulic system and washer, which have been protected since 1995. In 1998, the estate belonged to Count Henry du Laz, perpetuating its anchor in local history.

Partially classified in 1911 for its medieval remains, the castle sees its whole (island, remains, moats, commons of the eighteenth century) inscribed in 1995. These protections emphasize its heritage importance, mixing defensive, residential and architectural heritage. The 18th century commons, still standing, recall the evolution of the site towards a more agricultural or domestic function, typical of the large Norman houses.

The 15th century poterno and the 1583 house, although partially destroyed, offer an overview of the constructive techniques of their time. The castle thus illustrates the transitions between the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, while bearing the traces of subsequent upheavals, such as the fire of the Second Empire. Its present state, between ruin and conservation, makes it a poignant testimony of Norman history.

Located southeast of Fontaine-Étoupefour, in the hamlet of Fontaine, the castle is part of a landscape marked by its hydraulic system, characteristic of medieval fortifications adapted to their environment. The moat and its wall, still visible, recall its initial defensive role, while the central island houses the last remains of the house and its outbuildings. This site, both military and seigneurial, reflects the power and prestige stakes of its builders.

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