Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Yville, built in 1708 on the town of Yville-sur-Seine (Seine-Maritime), replaces a medieval mansion destroyed that same year. His plans were attributed to Jules Hardouin-Mansart, but the works, initiated by François Le Menu de Lanoé, interrupted in 1717 because of his bankruptcy. The estate then passed into the hands of controversial figures, such as the financier John Law de Lauriston (1720-1723), before being acquired by Jean-Prosper Goujon de Gasville, intendant of Rouen, who completed its construction between 1723 and 1735 under the direction of architect Jean-Jacques Martinet.

The house, built of local limestone, brick and wood, incorporates luxurious elements such as a wrought iron ramp for the staircase, commissioned in 1766 by Louis Gérome Hegaux. The estate also includes a 13th century chapel, renovated and located 150 feet from the castle, as well as a park and game park extending to Barneville-sur-Seine (Eure). In the 18th century, it became the residence of the Goujon family of Gasville, then passed to the Maures de Malartic in the 20th century, before being restored in the 1980s by Michel Frances.

The castle played a military role during the Second World War, serving as a command post at the 21st and 9th Panzerdivision in 1943. Ranked a historic monument in 1931 for the building and in 2002 for the whole estate (park, fences, perspectives), it illustrates the architectural and social evolution of Normandy, mixing seigneurial heritage, financial speculation and military occupations. Today's private property remains a remarkable example of the Norman heritage of the eighteenth century, marked by classical influences and local materials.

The history of the estate also reflects the economic hazards of its owners: from successive bankruptcies (Le Menu de Lanoé, John Law) to ambitious restorations, such as that led by Michel Frances in the 1980s-1990s. The presence of a game park, located in the Eure, highlights the historical extent of the estate, which transcends the current departmental boundaries. The architectural descriptions, such as those of Gilles Hue, reveal technical details, such as the 66 feet of facade or the repairs of the communes, reflecting an ambitious but unfinished initial project.

Finally, the castle of Yville embodies a place of power and reception: in 1931, Arnauld de Maures de Malartic, then mayor, welcomed the Minister of Agriculture André Tardieu. This episode, like the German occupation, recalls its anchor in national events, while maintaining its character as a private residence, now owned by an English owner since 1997.

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