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Origin and history

The castle of Morainville, located at Mesnil-sur-Blangy in Calvados, has its origins in the 17th century. Its Louis XIII style construction, attributed to the Houel family of the Pommeraye, is marked by a visible coat of arms above the front door. This castle, typical of the brick and stone architecture of the time, reflects the influence of the great noble families of Normandy.

The seigneury of Morainville originally belonged to the family of Dreux, descendants of Robert I of Dreux, son of Louis VI the Gros. After the death of Gilles de Dreux in 1502 and Jean de Dreux in 1590, the property passed to the Houel by the marriage of Yvonne de Dreux with Guillaume Houel. The Houel family kept the castle until 1732, when it was sold to Guillaume René de Franqueville.

In the 18th century, the castle changed hands several times by marriage alliances. In 1738 Charlotte Julie de Franqueville married Joseph Laurent de Grieu, then their daughter Marie Claude de Grieu married Pierre Bruno Emmanuel Estièvre, Marquis de Tremauville, in 1771. The castle remained in this family until the 19th century, where it was inherited by Gaston du Fresne de Beaucourt, Marquis and historian, who received personalities such as composer Charles Gounod.

In 1807 Claude Pierre Emmanuel Estièvre, Marquis de Tremauville, married Aimée Antoinette Pauline Thelusson de Sorcy, whose mother had been painted by Jacques-Louis David. The castle then passed to the Fresne of Beaucourt, then to the Aigneaux, current owners. In 2015, he was the director of the film Une Vie, adapted from Guy de Maupassant's novel.

The Morainville Castle, partially protected since 1933, includes Louis XIII-style facades and roofs, two square pavilions, as well as a large interior staircase. Its architecture and history make it a remarkable testimony to the Norman aristocratic heritage.

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