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Origin and history

The command office of Saint-Étienne-de-Renneville was founded around 1140-1150 by Richard d'Harcourt, son of Robert I of Harcourt, who erected a chapel dedicated to Saint Stephen. This site became a major possession of the Templars, enriched by numerous donations in the 12th and 13th centuries, including lands, tithes and churches. At its peak, it had nine farms, urban houses and rights over more than sixty surrounding parishes, making it one of the richest commanderies in Normandy. Conflicts with local lords and the Church led the pope to place his goods under pontifical protection.

In 1307 the order of the Temple was abolished by King Philip the Bel, and his possessions, including this commandary, were transferred to the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1312. Under their management, the site experienced an architectural renewal, notably with the construction of a turret manor house at the end of the 15th century by Philippe de Mailly, and a monumental barn. The command office was an administrative and agricultural centre until the Revolution, where it was sold as a national property. Most of the buildings disappeared in the 19th and 20th centuries, but the barn, the supply and remains of the enclosures remain.

The chapel, originally built by Richard d'Harcourt and enlarged in the 13th century, housed tombs of commanders and religious paintings. It was destroyed during the Revolution. Richard d'Harcourt's layr, formerly present in the chapel, is now in the church of Saint-Aubin-d'Écrosville. The restored site is now known as La Grange de Renneville and hosts cultural events. It was listed as a historical monument in 1992 for its remaining elements, including the barn and the supply.

The spatial organization of the commandory was divided into two enclosures: the court of honor, with the house of the commandor (demoli in 1847) and the chapel, and the agricultural court, where barns, sheepfolds and other outbuildings were concentrated. Among the preserved buildings, the 15th century barn, decorated with the weapons of Philippe de Mailly, and the house of the registrator, built in 1740, illustrate the economic and symbolic importance of the site. The vestiges of the enclosure walls and the gate recall its defensive and religious role.

The command office of Saint-Étienne-de-Renneville embodies the turbulent history of military orders in Normandy. Founded by a local noble family, it passed from Templars to Hospitallers before becoming a national good. Its architecture, combining medieval and classical elements, reflects the political and religious evolutions of France. Today, the site combines heritage preservation and contemporary use, thus perpetuating its vocation as a gathering place, as in medieval and modern times.

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