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Origin and history

The feudal motte of Plessis-Poix is a medieval fortification located in the commune of Sainte-Céronne-lès-Mortagne, in the department of Orne, Normandy. Dating from the 11th century, it is located in the park of a manor house of the 15th and 16th centuries, about 2 km northwest of the village. This site illustrates the typical defensive architecture of the feudal era, with a moth probably girded with moats, characteristic of the military installations of Lower Normandy.

In the 11th century, the knights of Poix established a small castle under the Barony of Soligny. This place bears witness to the local seigneurial dynamics, where fortifications served as both aristocratic residence and territorial control point. The motte, though modest, reflects the Norman feudal organization, marked by a network of vassals and fiefs under the authority of powerful barons like those of Soligny.

The feudal motte of the Plessis-Poix was registered as historical monuments by order of 24 June 1975. This protection recognizes its heritage value, both for its state of conservation and its role in local history. Today, the site remains a tangible vestige of the medieval era, offering an overview of defensive strategies and seigneurial occupation in Normandy in the Middle Central Ages.

Available sources, including Wikipedia and Monumentum, highlight its membership in Norman architectural heritage. The approximate location, noted as "a priori satisfactory" (level 6/10), places the motte at address 122 La Chapelle de Poix, confirming its anchoring in the historical landscape of Sainte-Cérone-lès-Mortagne. No information is provided on its current accessibility or tourist use.

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