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Origin and history

The Château de Médavy was founded in the 12th century as a stronghold of the Duchy of Normandy, owned by the barons du Merle, including Foulques du Merle, Marshal de France in 1302. Passed by alliances to the families of Champagne, Painel then d'Estouteville, the medieval fortress was probably destroyed between 1417 and 1449 during the Hundred Years War. Soon after, the estate entered the Rouxel family, which kept it for nearly 250 years. A first castle is rebuilt, and the Orne course is diverted to feed the moat, raising the ground from 1.5 to 2 meters.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Rouxel family, joined Henri IV, won the title of Baron and the office of Governor of Argentan. In 1598 Françoise Rouxel married Antoine Osmond, transmitting the Barony of Médavy to this family. At the end of the 17th century, the castle was temporarily abandoned in favour of the castle of Grancey in Burgundy. Jacques-Léonor Rouxel de Grancey, Marshal of France in 1724, built between 1704 and 1725 the present building, inspired by Mansart's classical architecture, with a central pavilion and two wings framed by massive pavilions.

In 1754, the castle was acquired by Pierre Thiroux de Montregard, a general farmer and first valet of Louis XVI. He added a large staircase, commons, a dovecote, and had the land erected in 1769. The Revolution forced the family into exile in 1789: the furniture was dispersed in 1794, and the castle remained uninhabited until 1812, when it was sold for debt. The heirs then shave the remains of the old Château Rouxel, preserving only the kitchen and two towers (Saint John and Saint Peter).

In the 19th century, the castle changed hands several times: Madame de la Roque restored it in 1820, then the Countess of Mausson in 1867, bringing the estate to 325 hectares. In 1919, it was purchased by Henri de Peyerimhoff, an industrialist and member of the Institute, who resided there periodically. Saved in 1944, the castle was sold in 1975 to Maurice Rey, who opened it to the public in 1976 and undertook restorations, held back by the 1999 storm. Since 2005, the facades and roofs have been redone, and the interiors have been replaced for visits.

Today's architecture mixes medieval remains (doves, Saint John and Saint Peter Towers) with a body of 18th-century classic houses. The castle, protected by the Historical Monuments since 1926 (registration) and 1989 (partial classification), houses 18th-century furniture lounges, portraits of owners (one by Van Loo), and a collection of old maps. The gardens, listed in the pre-inventory of remarkable gardens, include linden alleys and a dovecote exhibiting African art works.

Partial destruction: On the night of 24-25 September 2025, a fire destroyed two thirds of the castle, marking a tragic turning point in its millennium history.

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