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Origin and history

The castle of Vassy, also known as the house of Brécey, is a 17th century residence in the municipality of Brécey, Normandy. Built between 1613 and 1620 by the family of Vassy, it is inspired by the castles of Ducey, Sotteville, Ci figurevast and Crosville-sur-Dove. Originally, it included a central house body with two side wings, a court of honor, gardens and avenues. Its architecture combines blue schist, pink brick and white stone, typical of the Second Renaissance and Louis XIII style.

The castle was owned by the lords of Vassy during the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1595 Françoise d'Amphernet, widow of Louis de Vassy, enlarged the estate and obtained the erection of his fief in barony in 1613. The construction of the mansion could date from the end of his life (before 1614) or have been initiated by his son, Jacques de Vassy, married to Louise de Montgommery. The interlaced initials V.M. (Vassy-Montgomery) once decorated the beams of the guard room, according to local historian Maxime Fauchon.

Built from its furniture during the Revolution, the castle underwent partial demolitions in the 19th century: its lateral wings were destroyed, its monumental chimneys transferred to the castles of Bonnefontaine (Ille-et-Vilaine) and Saint-Blaise (Bricquebec), and its gardens disappeared. In 1910 Larturière's family bought it back and began its restoration. Today, it houses cultural exhibitions and maintains a rotating staircase in brick and granite, classified as a historical monument since 2000.

The building features a quadrangular house with a central pavilion, marked by windows with angular or rounded frontons. Inside, the three-fly staircase, supported by granite columns, and the brick walls illustrate the architectural style of the era. The facades, roofs and stairways have been protected as historical monuments since 8 September 2000.

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