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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Marbeuf Manor House, located in the eponymous hamlet of Sahurs (Seine-Maritime), is a Gothic building built in 1515. Its facade is distinguished by a Gothic porch surmounted by a half-timbered and stone house of Caumont, typical of Norman Renaissance architecture. The other old parts, partially destroyed, were replaced in the 18th century by a more recent wing, reflecting the stylistic evolutions of the era.

The adjoining chapel, originally dedicated to Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix, is attributed to Louis de Brézé, Sénéchal de Normandie and husband of Diane de Poitiers. Raised around 1525, it is characterized by a three-sided bedside and two arched spans with elegance. Its windows, with original shingles, have lost their stained glass windows but retain remarkable elements such as a liturgical pool and 16th century panelling. Under the paving, a sepulchral vault recalls its funeral vocation.

In 1635, the chapel was renamed Notre-Dame-du-Vœu after Anne of Austria made a vow there for the birth of an heir, promising a silver statue of the weight of the child to come. Two years later Louis XIV was born, which earned Sahurs the reputation of having "given a king to France". The statue, weighing nearly 6 kg, was installed in the chapel until its disappearance during the Revolution. Since then, the site has attracted pilgrims and faithful, perpetuating a local devotion rooted in monarchical history.

The mansion and its chapel have been classified as Historic Monuments since May 7, 1945, recognizing their heritage value. The entrance porch and chapel, the only protected remains, bear witness to the influence of Norman noble families, such as the De Marbeuf, who marked the history of the place. The poet Pierre de Marbeuf (17th century), born in Sahurs, lived there and contributed to the literary fame of the estate.

Architecturally, the mansion illustrates the transition between late Gothic and Renaissance, with local materials such as Caumont stone. The chapel, meanwhile, combines structural elegance and religious symbolism, embodying the spiritual and political aspirations of its time. Their preservation allows us today to study the evolution of constructive techniques and devotional practices in Normandy.

The site is part of a broader historical landscape, marked by the proximity of the Seine and the loops that have structured human exchanges and settlements since the Middle Ages. The forest of Roumare and the pilgrimage routes, like the one leading to Mont-Saint-Michel, reinforce its anchor in a territory rich in medieval and reborn heritage.

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