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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The house called Little Castle of Navarre is located in the district of Navarre in Évreux, a historical district known for its links with the Dukes of Bouillon. The latter had built a park and several castles, whose estate was acquired by Napoleon I in 1809 for Josephine de Beauharnais. Although this house was not part of this estate, it was built at its edge on land belonging to Auguste Casimir de Vergnette d'Alban, who had a first house built there in 1781. The building, made of bricks and stones, underwent at least three major changes, notably in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

After several changes of owners, including Paul Reveillehac in 1893, the house was sold in 1939 to the association Les Cèdres, which set up a school for poor girls in the workers' district. The building consists of a six-span central body, supplemented by a wing in return of square and a veranda added later. Its interior, marked by reshuffles, preserves remarkable elements such as a stove decorated with a bas-relief depicting Jesus and the Samaritan, various parquet floors and fireplaces, including one decorated with Vernon ceramics.

The house was partially classified as a Historic Monument in 2018, with the protection of its facades and roofs. Its history reflects the social and architectural transformations of Evreux, from its aristocratic origin to its educational and charitable vocation in the 20th century. The cadastral documents and its current state bear witness to these developments, while stressing its place in the local heritage.

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