Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Old Neubourg Castle, also known as the Neubourg Castle, is a medieval building built around the year one thousand, which became a major stronghold of the Duchy of Normandy in the Middle Ages. Located in the commune of Neubourg (Eure, Normandy), it originally belonged to the seigneurs of Beaumont in the 12th century, then to the families Meulan and Vieux-Pont in the 13th and 14th centuries. The castle played a key political role, especially during the Hundred Years' War, and was the scene of significant events such as the election of Stephen of Blois in 1135 or the marriage of Marguerite of France in 1160.

The fortress, with ditches, towers, walls and a drawbridge, lost its military use in 1660, when Alexandre de Rieux, Marquis de Sourdéac, represented Pierre Corneille's La Toison d'or, the first French opera-feerie. Partly demolished in 1782-83 to create a market place, it now retains only a 120-metre fortified front (tours, court, drawbridge door), a 13th-century house (known as "Former Comedy"), and the New House, dated 1509. These remains, as well as the soils of the lower courtyard and ditches, have been classified as historical monuments since 2020.

Private property of the Lettré family until 2014, the castle was purchased by the Neubourg municipality, which also acquired the Maison-Neuve and Madame de Boulay tower in 2017. These acquisitions allowed the two parts of the castle, separated since 1843. The site, including the old castle, a Norman house and the hotel of the Sun of Gold, has been registered since 1943 for its landscape and historical interest. Today managed by the municipality, it bears witness to the architectural and political evolution of Normandy, from medieval conflicts to its transformation into a place of civil life.

Protected elements include all defensive devices (courtesy, doors, towers), ditch floors, and Newfoundland House extensions. The 2020 ranking replaced a previous listing in 2002, highlighting the heritage importance of the site. Although some parts have disappeared, as the courtine was demolished in the 18th century, the remaining remains provide a rare glimpse of Norman fortifications and their adaptation to civic needs over the centuries.

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