Manoir des Tourelles

Manoir des Tourelles (also known as Manoir des Champeaux) is a 16th-century manor house in Val-de-Vie, a small commune in the Calvados department of Normandy. It stands in what was once the village of Saint-Germain-de-Montgommery, absorbed into the merged commune of Val-de-Vie in 2016.

When was the manor built?

The main residential building dates from the second half of the 16th century. Early in the 17th century, its owners added a defensive touch: two cylindrical turrets flanking the entrance, which gave the building its name. In the 19th century the old dovecote was converted into a timber-framed farm building, a common fate for such structures in the Normandy countryside during that period.

What is there to see?

The most recognisable feature is the entrance framed by its two round turrets, giving the building the look of a small fortified estate - though the manoir was never a true stronghold. It's better described as a gentry residence with a decorative-defensive flourish, typical of late-Renaissance architecture in Normandy. The main living quarters keep the layout common to manors of this region. Also worth noting is the former colombier (dovecote), remodelled in the 19th century, whose facades and roof received their own separate protection status.

Can you visit the manor?

Manoir des Tourelles in Val-de-Vie is privately owned, unlike some other manors sharing the same name elsewhere in France. That means there's no open access to the interior - the building is best appreciated as part of a walk through the surrounding countryside, admired from outside, rather than as an attraction with set opening hours.

Why is it a protected site?

The turreted entrance and the main building were listed as historic monuments (inscrit au titre des monuments historiques) in 1933. That protection was extended in 1993 to cover the facades and roof of the converted dovecote as well. The site is recorded in the Mérimée heritage database under reference PA00111673, confirming its place among France's protected architectural heritage.

Where exactly is Val-de-Vie?

Val-de-Vie was created in 2016 by merging four former communes: Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery, now the seat of the new commune, along with La Brévière, La Chapelle-Haute-Grue, and Saint-Germain-de-Montgommery, where the manor itself stands. The commune takes its name from the river Vie, which runs through this part of Calvados. The surrounding countryside is classic Normandy bocage - hedgerow-lined meadows and scattered farms - with the Pays d'Auge as the nearest well-known landmark region.

Frequently asked questions

When was Manoir des Tourelles built? The main building dates from the second half of the 16th century, with its distinctive turrets added in the early 17th century.

Is the manor open to visitors? No - it's privately owned, so the interior isn't open to the public. You can view it from outside.

Why is it called "des Tourelles"? The name comes from the two cylindrical turrets flanking the entrance, added in the early 17th century to give the residence a fortified look.

Is it a protected historic site? Yes. The turreted entrance and main building have been listed as monuments historiques since 1933, with the former dovecote added to that protection in 1993.