Fire 26–27 mars 2003 (≈ 27)
Damage caused by lightning.
début XIIIe siècle
Previous construction
Previous construction début XIIIe siècle (≈ 1304)
Donation to the Abbey of Belle-Étoile.
1545
Date engraved
Date engraved 1545 (≈ 1545)
Mention a date on the building.
2e moitié XVe siècle
Initial construction
Initial construction 2e moitié XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Period of foundation of the current mansion.
19 décembre 1985
Registration MH
Registration MH 19 décembre 1985 (≈ 1985)
Protection of buildings and wells.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Manoir de Langle dit Le Vieux Manoir, the two buildings of the communes and the covered well (cad. 108A 28): inscription by decree of 19 December 1985
Key figures
Seigneur de Beaufour - Initial donor
Ceded a building in the thirteenth century.
Origin and history
The Manor House of Langle, also known as the Manor House of Lieu Gervais or Le Vieux Manoir, is a historic residence located in Hotot-en-Auge, Calvados department, Normandy. Dated from the second half of the 15th century and redesigned in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, it probably replaces an older construction, given in the 13th century by the seigneur of Beaufour at the Abbey of Belle-Étoile. This site, marked by an ancient seigneurial occupation, illustrates the architectural evolution of augen manors over centuries.
The manor suffered a major fire on the night of 26-27 March 2003, caused by lightning, which damaged some of its structures. Despite this event, it retains remarkable elements such as its two communal buildings and a covered well, characteristic of the seigneurial ensembles of the Pays d'Auge. These elements, as well as the main dwelling, were included in the inventory of historic monuments by order of 19 December 1985, highlighting their heritage value.
Close to the old church of Brocottes, the mansion is part of a Norman rural landscape where manor houses played a central role in the local social and economic organization. These seigneurial residences served as both a place of life for noble families, an administrative centre for the surrounding lands, and a symbol of power. Their architecture, often enriched over the centuries, reflects successive stylistic influences, from the flamboyant Gothic to the classical era.
Historical sources mention the manor in several reference works, including the Monumental Statistics of the Calvados d'Arcisse de Caumont (1867) and more recent studies such as Les manoirs du Pays d'Auge (1995). These works document its importance in the local heritage, as well as the transformations experienced over the centuries. The site remains a valuable testimony to Normandy's rural and aristocratic history.
Today, the Langle mansion, although partially damaged, continues to attract interest in its history and architecture. Its inscription in historical monuments guarantees the preservation of its most significant elements, while allowing in-depth studies on the construction techniques and lifestyles of past eras. Its location in Hotot-en-Auge, Calvados, makes it an anchoring point of Augens heritage, alongside other manor houses and castles of the region.
