Châteaux in Haute-Normandie: fiefdoms that tell a story

Waël Dargouth 15 Dec 2020
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In Haute-Normandie, châteaux are entire fiefdoms that tell a story of knights, a family, and an artist, all centred around the estate’s ornamental gardens.

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Châteaux en Haute-Normandie, les fiefs qui racontent une histoire
Château de Sassetot-le-Mauconduit, once the residence of Elizabeth II of Austria, also known as Sissi, has been converted into a hotel. © DR
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The Seine River winds its way through Haute Normandie, a region that attracts visitors eager for a breath of fresh ocean air; pebbled beaches with breath-taking views; green forests, marshes, and valleys; and a dose of culture with a trip to its charming and traditional towns. A common thread underpinning the region’s landscapes is its rich architectural heritage, which echoes the glory and grandeur of the châteaux for sale in Haute-Normandie, a land of victorious battles that has seen iconic figures like William the Conqueror and Richard the Lionheart; inspired novelists like Gustave Flaubert, Guy de Maupassant, and Pierre Corneille; and served as the backdrop for the Impressionist painters Eugène Boudin, Edouard Manet, and Claude Monet.

Heaven for anyone looking for a historical home

In this region, where legends and fairy tales are recited in every household, tourism is a powerful economic driver. The coast is home to a number of busy seaside resort towns, including Etretat, whose « Hollow Needle » proved to be a subject of fascination for Arsène Lupin; the casinos in Forges-les-Eaux and Saint-Valéry-en-Caux; and Veules-les-Roses, a must-see destination along the Alabaster Coast. The region is home to some of the most beautiful villages in France, and its culinary delights are also high on its list of attractions.

Pebbled beaches and hilltop castles

If you are planning on buying a château in France, whether here or elsewhere, note that Haute-Normandie includes two departments—Eure and Seine-Maritime. Located one hour from Paris, the first is named for the river that cuts through the area. Its architecture is dominated by half-timbered homes, and the region features Pays d’Auge, Pays de Lyons, and Pays d’Ouche as well as a charming cultural and religious heritage. The second department, Seine-Maritime, is home to a number of parks and forest preserves that include tourist routes dedicated to abbeys, ivory, glass, dovecotes, and fruit. The department also features numerous race tracks and prestigious golf courses, so you’ll have plenty to do every weekend.

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Built in 1485, the Château de Martainville is a showcase for art in Normandy. © Ariane Citron

In the cradle of historical Normandy

In this enchanting region, the list of cities, where available properties are built with a combination of brick, flint, and slate-tiled roofs, is long. Rouen and its cathedral, Le Havre and its port, Dieppe and its endless beaches, the chalky cliffsides of Fécamp, the thirteen districts in Evreux, the medieval charm of Vernon, the thousand-year buildings of Les Andelys, and the museums of Giverny are just a few of the region’s attractions. Not to mention the ruins of Gisors, which can be found just next to the châteaux for sale in Pont-Audemer, Normandy’s Little Venice in which visitors can revisit the time of knights and castles.

The irresistible attraction of Normandy’s many treasures

Average price of a château in Haute-Normandie: 1 837 794 €.

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