An Elegant 16th And 18th Century Private Mansion, Its Outbuildings, Courtyard And Tree Filled

An elegant 16th and 18th-century private mansion, its outbuildings, courtyard and tree-filled garden, in Valognes on the Cotentin peninsula. Set back from the street, the property faces a wide courtyard, accessible via an impressive solid iron electric swing gate. As for the edifice, its front door is placed in the middle of its façade, whereas the former outbuildings, with their own entrances, are placed at right angles on either side of the courtyard. Behind, the dwelling’s western exterior faces a pleasant tree-filled garden, while, set within one of the property’s tall walls, wooden double doors provide a side entrance accessible from a tree-filled chase.

Built in the late 16th century, when Valognes was torn between the partisans of the Holy League and the Carentan Protestants who were laying siege to the town, this stately private mansion is made up of a central main dwelling flanked by two right-angle wings that close off the cobblestone courtyard. To the southeast, an archway opens onto a small annexe courtyard where two outbuildings are located, one of which is crowned with a corbelled pepperpot tower, and, directly opposite, two arrow slits in one of the central building’s walls still bear witness to this chaotic period of upheaval.

As for the dwelling’s initial appearance, it was altered in the 18th century in order to accommodate a noble family. Partially constructed out of rubble stone and topped with a hipped roof punctuated by three dormer windows, the dwelling is also built out of “Valognes” stone, a sandy limestone that is both easy to manipulate and includes a large quantity of fossils. On either side, the four-storey main building, including an attic level, is cadenced by many wide casement windows, whereas, on the garden side, they overlook an immense conservatory, which is used as a winter garden or a summer dining room. To the west, facing the garden and adjacent to the conservatory, a small masonry structure, topped with a single-pitch roof and one window, contains the house’s staircase, while, to the south, a patio provides breath-taking views of the city’s rooftops.
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website: https://www.georisques.gouv.fr/