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Origin and history

The manor house of La Roque is a 15th, 16th and 17th century residence in Montpinçon, on the former commune of L'Oudon (Calvados, Normandy). It is located on the border of the country of Auge and the countryside of Falaise, near the hamlet of La Roque, below the village of Billot. Built on the site of an ancient fortified castle, it preserves remains such as the castral mound and ditches.

The seigneurial house, dating back to the 16th century, has a symmetrical architecture in wooden panels, with vertical half-timbers and a four-sided roof adorned with skylights. At the back, the façade is completely covered with slate. An adjacent building, older (15th century), quietly extends the house eastward. The commons, also in wooden strips, frame a rectangular courtyard.

The mansion belonged to the Marguerite family in the 16th century. At the beginning of the 18th century Françoise de Marguerie married Omer de la Roque, giving his name to the estate. The press, attested to in the 18th century, is one of the protected elements. The house, the facades of the communes, the bakery and its oven have been listed as historical monuments since 1993.

The building illustrates the architectural evolution of Norman manors, moving from a defensive function (feudal muff) to a seigneurial residence. Its lime mortar hurdles, imposing chimneys and ancient tiles testify to the constructive techniques of the 16th-17th centuries. The symmetry of the house reflects the Renaissance influence in the region.

The 1993 protection also covers the press mechanism, stressing the economic importance of the field. The manor house, although partially modified, retains traces of its medieval origin, as the lower level of the building is, dating back to the 15th century. Its integration into the Augeron landscape makes it a typical example of Normandy's rural heritage.

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