Manoir de Blanche de Castille à L'Hôtellerie dans le Calvados

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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The White House of Castile is a log house located in L'Hôtellerie, Calvados, dating from the late 15th or early 16th century. Although its name evokes the Queen Blanche of Castilla, the mother of Saint Louis, no historical evidence confirms its direct connection to construction. According to a local tradition, she would have had a chapel or leprosy erected nearby after the death of a young child, giving her name to the place called Hotellerie. The current building, typical of auger architecture with a corbelled floor, has a carved shield bearing the inscription "Vive le Roy".

The façade of the manor house was listed as historic monuments by decree of 19 January 1927, recognizing its heritage value. Originally, the structure could have had a seigneurial or agricultural function, as evidenced by the half-timbered houses of the region. In the 21st century, the mansion was converted into an inn, continuing its welcoming role while preserving its historic character. The sources also mention a precise location: border of the departmental road 613, next to the church Saint-Nicolas.

The architectural descriptions highlight its late medieval style, with defence elements absent, suggesting a residential or symbolic vocation. The reference to Blanche de Castille, although popular, is more a legend than a proven history. The archives do not confirm its presence on the site, but the oral tradition has long marked the identity of the place. Today, the mansion illustrates Normandy's rural heritage, between collective memory and contemporary adaptation.

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