Origin and history
The estate of the château de Saint-Symphorien-des-Monts, situated on horseback in the communes of Saint-Symphorien-des-Monts and Lapenty, is a historical complex dating back to the 13th century. The first castle, surrounded by ditches and equipped with a drawbridge, leaves today only a square dungeon. In the 17th century, a new Louis XIII style castle was built in 1620 by the family of Vauborel, and seized during the Revolution in 1793 after the emigration of its owner, Charles Marie du Bourblanc from Apreville. The estate, temporarily used as a town hall after the Revolution, was marked by a fire in 1916 which destroyed the castle, whose ruins were razed in 1971.
The park, built into a leisure park in the early 18th century and transformed into an English-speaking park around 1830, extends over 63 hectares, 10 of which are open to the public. It houses remarkable elements such as a Neolithic covered walkway listed as a historical monument in 1977, a 19th century gardener's house, and a 16th century cottage. The park, transformed into an animal and floral park under the name of Eden Parc in 1971 by Count Charles-Édouard de Miramon Pesteils, suffered heavy damage during the storm of 1999, causing its closure until its partial reopening in 2012. Today, it preserves animals such as Shetland ponies, peacocks, and dwarf sheep, as well as rich vegetation.
The architecture of the 17th century castle, described in the 1793 inventories, revealed a building of sixteen windows spread over two levels, with skylights and a steep roof. The façade overlooked a courtyard of honour framed by two pavilions connected by granite balustrades, some of which still remain. The 13th century square dungeon, the only vestige of the first castle, was accompanied by a chapel. The richly furnished interiors included living rooms, room rooms, equipped kitchens, and outbuildings such as stables, a forge, and a bakery. The inventories also detail luxurious furniture, art works, and everyday objects, reflecting the aristocratic lifestyle of the time.
The seigneury of Saint-Symphorien-des-Monts was owned by several noble families, including Mahé, Vauborel, and Géraldin. In the 18th century, Antoine Anne Nicolas de Géraldin, Marquis and grand baili of Mortain County, lived there with his sister and family. His son-in-law, Charles Marie du Bourblanc of Apreville, emigrated in 1791 before returning in 1802. The estate then passed to the Counts of Rougé in the 19th century, then to the family of Miramon Pesteils in the 20th century. The coat of arms of successive families, such as those of the Mahé ("A giron of gold in the field of Gules") or of the Vauborel ("D'azur in the silver tower"), bear witness to their noble heritage.
Among the protected elements of the estate are the facades and roofs of two cottages, one from the sixteenth century, as well as the farm of the Basse-Court, registered in 2005 for its agricultural buildings (logis, stables, barn, press). The covered track of the Cartesières, dated 3000 BC, is a major archaeological vestige. The park, although partially reopened, still bears the stigma of the 1999 storm, which destroyed 3000 trees and animal enclosures. Its recent history is marked by the preservation efforts of the Counts of Miramon Pesteils, then by the Association of Friends of the Park.
Historical sources, such as the inventories of 1793 or the works of Jean Durand de Saint-Front, offer precise insight into the daily life and organization of the estate. The outbuildings, such as the bakery, the forge, or the stables, were home to intense economic activity, with servants, craftsmen, and peasants working for the lords. The Revolution marks a turning point, with the seizure of goods and the partial dispersion of furniture. In the 19th century, the count of Rougé rebuilt the castle in 1848, before its definitive destruction in 1965, leaving only the park and its outbuildings as witnesses to this prestigious past.
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