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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Saint-Hilaire-sur-Risle is a house of the early seventeenth century, built around 1610 by François Le Hantier on the site of an ancient medieval fortress. Built in pink bricks, it adopts an architectural style typical of the Lisieux region, with d-angle pavilions, a triangular pediment and black varnished brick decorations forming diamond. The courtyard of honour is lined with buildings of commons dating back to the 18th century, just like the dovecote.

Originally, the Saint-Hilaire fief belonged to the Duchy of Alençon, and a castral mot probably occupied the present location. The present castle, of Henry IV style, replaces the old Shaved Fortress in the early seventeenth century. Its facades, roofs, dovecote and entrance gate have been listed as historic monuments since 1974. Private property, it underwent a minor modification around 1920 with the addition of an additional level.

The estate remained in private hands, belonging notably to Yves Jousselin de Saint-Hilaire in 1998, then to the Renaud des Portes de la Fosse family since 2016. Although not open to the public, the castle illustrates the architecture of Norman genthommières, mixing local influences (augeronne bricks) and stylized defensive elements, such as fake mâchicoulis. Its dovecote and its commons bear witness to its evolution in the eighteenth century.

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