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Origin and history

Château de la Paluelle is a 15th and 17th century residence in Saint-James, in the Manche department, Normandy. It replaces an old destroyed castle, serving as a residence for the lords of Saint-James. The present building, partially inscribed in historical monuments, combines architectural elements of the Louis XI and Louis XIII eras, with round towers, murderers and braces.

The castle was rebuilt around 1625 by Jean de La Paluelle and his son Jacques, after the destruction of the previous one during the capture of Saint-James. In 1638, Jean de La Paluelle obtained the erection of his lands in barony. The estate then moved to Canisy's Carbonel family by marriage in 1687, after the extinction of the male lineage of La Paluelle. The private chapel of the seventeenth century has now disappeared.

The castle, of Henri IV-Louis XIII style, includes a pavilion dated 1632 and a left wing going up to Louis XI, flanked by a round tower defended by steeples. The court of honour, bordered by stables and communes, is framed by buildings with mansard roofs, after 1650. The 1.5 hectare park houses a double revolution pole and hosts an annual jumping contest.

Private property not open to the public, the castle belonged to noble families such as La Paluelle, the Carbonel de Canisy, and then the Belloy de Saint-Liénard until the middle of the 20th century. Since then, it has been restored by Jean-Christophe de The Hague Saint-Hilaire and his wife, who organize equestrian events there.

The facades, roofs, the courtyard of honour and the park have been listed as historical monuments since January 30, 1967. The castle illustrates the architectural evolution between the Middle Ages and the modern era, while preserving defensive elements such as murderers and breeches, witnesses to its seigneurial past.

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