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Origin and history

The manor house of the Bois Adam was built at the end of the 17th century for Charles de Boisadam, on a dowry land brought by his wife Gillonne de Tesson around 1690. The estate remained in the Boisadam family until 1823, when Jean-Baptiste de Tesson acquired it and undertook major developments, including the reconstruction of the retaining walls in 1824 and the addition of a stable in 1827.

In 1759, an astronomical sundial was offered to Jacques de Boisadam, grandson of Charles, marking a rare decorative element for the time. The garden, structured around a central axis, has been home since 1847 to a cedar from Lebanon brought back from the Holy Land by a great-grandmother of the family. This terraced garden, enclosed with walls decorated with gazebos, visually extends the mansion and offers a clear view of three neighbouring departments.

Inside, the mansion retains original decorations from the early 18th century, including panelling by E. TAF. Those of the large living room, chiseled with refinement, contrast with the simplicity of the small living room. Ranked as a Historic Monument in 1998, the building protects its facades, roofs, interior decorations (scaling, doors, panelling) and plate of the garden with its fence walls.

The architecture of the mansion reflects its evolution: the northern forebody, initially surmounted by a triangular pediment, was enhanced in 1890 by one floor and a four-paned roof. This modification accentuated the verticality of the building, while preserving its harmony with the surrounding bocager landscape. The position above the mansion, chosen for its panorama, makes it a remarkable example of integration between built heritage and nature.

The historical sources underline the residential and symbolic role of the estate, past from Boisadam to Tesson, two noble families of Normandy. The 19th and 20th century developments (such as cedar or facade changes) reflect a continuous occupation and a concern for modernization, without altering the original spirit of the place.

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