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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Bec-Crespin Castle, built in the 12th century by the Crespin family, is a typical example of Norman medieval architecture. Transformed over the centuries, it retains defensive elements such as a moth, moat and five original towers. His history was marked by major changes, notably at the end of the 15th century under Louis de Brézé, governor of Normandy and husband of Diane de Poitiers, then in 1585 by Nicolas II Romé de Fresquiiennes, inspired by the plans of Androuet du Cerceau.

In the 17th century, the castle became a prison for refractory priests during the Terror, before being restored between 1844 and 1848 by the Viscount of Croixmare. In 1916, he welcomed the Belgian government in exile, hosting personalities such as Count Carton de Wiart, Minister of State. During World War II, he served as a military hospital in 1943 and was restored by Pierre Mignot.

The estate, private property not open to the public, has been partially classified as Historic Monument since 1952. Its facades and roofs, especially those of the entrance building and the communes, illustrate the Cauchois Henri IV style. The castle remains an architectural testimony of successive transformations, from the Middle Ages to the modern era, in a landscape preserved by the sources of the Lizard.

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