Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Manor of the Catel is a fortified house built between 1267 and 1270 under the impulse of Richard de Treigots, tenth abbot of Fécamp, on lands offered by the Duke of Normandy. Placed at the bottom of the valley to feed its moat, this quadrangular manor with round towers reflected the high justice delegated by Louis IX to the religious. Its defensive architecture, with a fortified entrance and a monumental forebody, illustrates the influence of the abbots in the region.

Sold as national property during the Revolution, the mansion was transformed into a farm before being bought in 2000 by Frédéric Toussaint. The latter undertook a major restoration, crowned in 2013 by the Grand Trophy of the most beautiful restoration in France. The excavations in 2014 revealed the 13th century medieval bridge and restored the moat route, while the classification at the Historic Monuments in 2010 protected the entire site, canceling the partial protections of 1944 and 1977.

In December 2024, the manor house was selected for the Lotto du Patrimoine to finance the consolidation of the walls and doors, including the carriageway door. This project is a continuation of efforts to preserve this exceptional testimony of Norman seigneurial architecture, linked to the Abbey of Fécamp. The work under way aims to stabilize the remains while valuing their historical authenticity.

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