Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Vaussieux came into being in the 13th century, when Simon Bacon, lord of Molay, gave up part of the patronage of the church of Saint-Philippe de Vaussieux to the abbey of Longues-sur-Mer. In the 15th century, the seigneury passed into the hands of Larchamp's family, then the Grimouvilles, who undertook extensive work. In 1637, Jacques de Thioult, from an influential Protestant family, built a new castle on the ruins of the old residence, marking a key step in the evolution of the estate.

In the 18th century, Philippe Jacques d'Héricy, Marquis de Vaussieux, radically transformed the castle around 1771 by adding a floor and modifying the openings to adapt them to the tastes of the era. The estate became in 1778 the headquarters of a military camp of 40,000 soldiers, organized by Louis XVI to support American insurgents. These manoeuvres, led by General de Broglie, played an indirect role in the victory of Yorktown in 1781.

The 19th century saw the castle passed on to the Faret de Fournès and Bonnefoy du Charmel families, who renovated the English gardens and partially modernized the buildings. During the Second World War, the area was occupied by German troops (1942-1944), then by the Allies, serving as the logistics base for the airfield "B7". It was restored in the 20th century and became private property after several hand changes, including Burton Huntington-Wilson's, which contributed to its preservation.

Architecturally, the castle is distinguished by its long central pavilion building, adorned with a balcony and a pediment carved with Hericy weapons, symbolized by three hedgehogs. The stables, rebuilt in neo-norman style after a fire in 1866, and the vestiges of 17th century landscape developments, discovered in 2022, bear witness to its rich past. The estate, partially protected since 1970, embodies both Norman seigneurial heritage and national historical upheavals.

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