Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Castle of La Noë, also known as the Castle of Tracy, is an iconic monument located in Tracy-sur-Mer in Calvados. Built in the mid-18th century by Pierre Gaucher, Marquis de la Noë, it replaces a fief acquired in 1742 by Nicolas Joseph Foucault, intendant of Caen. This castle, more modest than that of Magny-en-Bessin next door, embodies the sober classicism advocated by François Blondel, with symmetrical facades and carved decorations evoking agriculture and nobility.

In the 19th century, Baron Delort de Gléon undertook major restorations, including the decoration of the panel of the salon by sculptor Emmanuel Frémiet around 1890. This "Frémiet Salon", adorned with humorous animal bas-reliefs, was classified as a Historic Monument in 1995. The house, its communes, the adjoining farm (known as the Grande Noë), and the park with its moats and booms are registered since 1994, reflecting the architectural and social evolution of the site.

The ensemble, organized around a courtyard and a garden, includes utility buildings ( stable, chapel, vaulted laundry) and symbolic decorative elements. On the courtyard side, the pediment has a lion, a leopard and plant motifs surmounted by a crown, while the facade garden celebrates agricultural tools and crops. These details reflect both the aristocratic status of the owners and their connection to local activities, typical of the Norman estates of the Ancien Régime.

The farm of the Grande Noë, built simultaneously at the castle, bears the date of 176. on his north gate. The restorations of the 19th century, such as the layout of the shed or the fountain with the coat of arms of the Baron, partially transform the whole, notably removing a historic alley and its gates. These changes illustrate the adaptation of French castles to the tastes and needs of the elites of the Second Empire and the Third Republic.

Today, Christmas Castle remains a remarkable example of Norman architectural heritage, mixing classical rigour and eclectic touches. Its classification and inscription in the Historic Monuments underline its heritage value, both for its building and for its interior decorations, whose sculptures by Frémiet constitute a gem. The site, still linked to its rural environment, offers a tangible testimony to the social and artistic history of the region.

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