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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castral ensemble of Château-sur-Epte, originally named Fuscelmont (attested under Mons Fusceoli in 1118), owes its present name to the ducal fortress built in 1097 by Guillaume le Roux to defend the border of Epte. This new castle (Novum Castrum), typical of the 11th century castral mots, became a strategic point with a lower courtyard and ramparts. In the 12th century, he received ecclesiastical protection for his market, granted by Hugues, Archbishop of Rouen, in 1154.

Over the centuries, the fortress was gradually destroyed, especially in the seventeenth century, before being abandoned. The ruins, classified as Historic Monument in 1998, were bought in 2015 by the Historical Heritage Association, which has been leading an ambitious restoration project since then (budget estimated at €5 million over 15-20 years). The site received a grant of € 244,000 in 2021 via the Heritage Mission, as part of the Heritage Lotto.

The current project aims to transform the castle into a medieval Normandy Interpretation Centre, highlighting its historical and tourist potential. The Normandy region supports this initiative, integrated into its mechanisms for preserving monuments and developing medieval sites. Remnants include a west gate tower, a courthouse, and a home, which are witnesses to its original defensive architecture.

In the 17th century, the archives of the diocese of Rouen reveal a village life centered around the church, with a school run by a cleric and an irregular religious practice among parishioners. Industrialization in the 19th century marked a turning point with the establishment of the Stationeries of the Epte (1850), which employed up to 450 people and structured local life until their closure in 1977.

The castral site is part of a landscape marked by the Epte Valley, classified in 1982, and the Guerny Marshes (ZNIEFF). Its history reflects the border issues between Normandy and Île-de-France, as well as the evolution of a rural village linked to handicrafts and agriculture, now oriented towards the valorisation of its heritage.

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