Construction of the moth Moyen Âge (≈ 1125)
Construction period not specified
26 septembre 1979
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 26 septembre 1979 (≈ 1979)
Official protection by order
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Feudal motte (cad. A 260): by order of 26 September 1979
Key figures
Jean sans Terre - King of England and Duke of Normandy
Hypothetical site visit
Origin and history
The castral motte of Malmain Castle, also known as Malmain Castle or Malesmains Castle, is a medieval vestige located in the commune of Saint-Benoît-d'Hébertot, Calvados. This monument, typical of the defensive architecture of the Middle Ages, is located at the so-called Murailles, a strategic location for the time. His name, Malmain or Malesmains, evokes an origin linked to evil hands or a tumultuous past, although the sources do not specify this etymology.
Three fiefs existed in the present territory of the commune, and the Malmain motte was probably part of it. According to some assumptions, Jean sans Terre, King of England and Duke of Normandy, could have stopped there when he travelled to his residence in Bonneville-sur-Touces. This visit, if proven, would highlight the strategic importance of this site at the beginning of the thirteenth century. However, direct evidence of its presence is lacking in available sources.
The feudal motte was classified as historical monuments by order of 26 September 1979, thus recognizing its heritage value. Today, the site belongs to a private company, and its access to the public is not clearly documented. The remains, although partially preserved, bear witness to medieval defensive construction techniques, with an artificial motte on which probably a wooden or stone tower was erected.
Available sources, including references by Flohic Éditions (2001) and Arcisse de Caumont (1862), mention this monument as a representative example of Norman castral mots. Its present state and its approximate location (noted as satisfactory a priori with a precision of 6/10) make it a subject of study for historians and archaeologists interested in the feudal occupation of Normandy.
The site is listed in the Merimée database under code 14130 (Saint-Benoît-d'Hébertot) and associated with the Calvados department (Insee code 14563). Although the practical information on visits is limited, its ranking makes it a key element of the Norman medieval heritage, alongside other monuments in the Lisieux district.
