Property information

A character property in Normandy

Since its construction two centuries ago, this mansion still belongs to the same family. Originally, the owners stayed there only in the summer and during the hunting season. Their descendants now reside permanently in this residence which offers a noble and cozy atmosphere.

Past the gate of the property, we walk the path that leads to the house and we discover a maintained park planted with multiple species of trees, in particular fruit trees, apple trees from Normandy. We then find the manor and its adjoining outbuildings: a small caretaker's house, an old press, an imposing barn built with some remains of Romanesque churches from the 12th century.

A mansion with a long history

This manor was once placed under the power of the lords of Tancarville. You can discover, not far from the main building, three Romanesque porches, vestiges of the old parish church of the 12th century. These lands of Épretot were acquired after the Revolution. The family who settled there and had the mansion built also owned very large estates.

This residence was then only a "small house", that of Paul Allard, historian, scholar best known for his research on the origins of Christianity in Rome and the persecutions with which he was confronted. This is how he left his mark on this noble resort.

Like the manorial residences of its time, this house was designed on a human scale with spacious rooms, comfortable but not too large, considering the previous tradition of manor houses. Under high ceilings, the whole is very balanced and habitable on a daily basis. The architecture allows the abundant decor to find its place and create completely contemporary living spaces in a remarkable period atmosphere.

Here, everything has been carefully preserved since the origins. From furniture to crockery and paintings, everything has been kept as it is in a timelessness that makes the place so charming. From the vestibule where a marquetry piano, probably from the 19th century, has found its place, to the kitchen at the foot of the stairs where guests discover their breakfast, seated around a large monastery table, to the living room or small boudoir Empire style, exemplary in terms of conviviality. The space is particularly welcoming under the Trianon paneling.

The dining room is lit by a restored Bohemian crystal chandelier. The overmantel of the fireplace is decorated with gilded sconces on a royal blue background in the purest tradition.

The decor of the rooms prolongs the atmosphere dedicated to the great hours of furniture. The Napoleon III bedroom with dark furniture from this "dark era" is said to be reminiscent of certain design trends of today. She is escorted to a 1930s bathroom.

The Louis XIII bedroom houses a library and a chest from this era, while the so-called "royal" bedroom has a canopy that evokes the charm of past centuries. In his bathroom, vertical tapestries, velvet paper decor.

They were found in a partition during renovation work carried out by the current owners. This is the atmosphere of this writer's mansion that has been passed down from mother to daughter. With each generation, the destiny of a line has thus been perpetuated in the heart of this Cauchois country, rich in renowned writers, from Guy de Maupassant, the most famous of them, to Maurice Leblanc, the creator of Arsène Lupine. The manor also experienced the vicissitudes of the Second World War.

During this time, the house was requisitioned by the doctors of Le Havre when the city was almost destroyed by the bombardments. A refractory member of the STO, Service du Travail Obligatoire in Germany, who was hiding in the attic, found freedom after the famous battle which liberated “the pocket of Caen”. Far from these troubled times, this manor has retained the spirit of its origins. It offers a warm welcome in an environment which, too, has hardly changed over the years.

At the gates of Le Havre and Honfleur, near the A13

In main or secondary residence, this manor is ideally located. Paris can be reached in 2 hours via the A13 motorway or via the Le Havre – Paris Saint Lazare train line.

Le Havre is less than 30 minutes away. The beaches of the Alabaster Coast are quickly accessible such as Etretat or Trouville / Deauville.