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Origin and history

The Château de Saint-Maclou, built around 1660 by Marc-Aurèle de Giverville and Claude Jubert, embodies Louis XIV architecture in Normandy. Raised in brick and stone, it stands in the center of a full ground lined with dry moats, with a south facade opening to a perspective of centuries-old lime trees. A dovecote and a 17th century press, decorated with enamelled bricks, complete the whole. The estate was enlarged in the 19th century by two wings in return, and a chapel was added between 1879 and 1881 by architect Hugelin.

The castle was the scene of a dark legacy capture affair involving Edward-Toussaint of Giverville, restored to his rights after 1776 thanks to the intervention of Catherine of Russia. Ruined by grand works aimed at welcoming the Empress – a project never realized – it was guillotined in 1794. The estate changed hands in 1860, acquired by Dominique Vauquelin, nephew of the alchemist Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin. After decades of abandonment and looting, it was restored and briefly opened to the public between 2003 and 2007, before welcoming upscale guest rooms in 2019.

Partially listed as historical monuments since 1977, the castle protects its facades, roofs, moats, and north and south perspectives. Its park, listed in the General Inventory of Cultural Heritage, bears witness to its historical importance. The interiors, though denatured, retain a ceiling painting depicting the castle with its 19th century wings. Today it is privately owned and combines architectural heritage and contemporary uses, between memory and hospitality.

The fief de Saint-Maclou, which was cited in the 13th century, was transformed into a seigneurial residence in the 17th century. The house, commons and stables, built between the 17th and 19th centuries, reflect the architectural and social evolutions of Normandy. The Giverville affair, linked to inheritance intrigues and the Revolution, illustrates the turbulence of the Old Regime and its consequences for the local heritage.

The castle, closed to visit since 2007 except for its guest rooms, remains a symbol of Norman history. Its dovecote, its moats and its alignment of linden trees recall the feudal organization and the aristocratic ambitions of its former owners. The 18th century works, inspired by a dream to welcome Catherine from Russia, underline the influence of European courses on French provincial architecture.

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