THE CASTLE
1000 YEARS OF HISTORY
The history of Château de Boutemont and its lords dates back to the year 1000, with the construction of a feudal motte, surmounted by a wooden tower, intended to control the lower valley of the Touques and the Roman road leading from Lisieux to the sea.
The motte was a rudimentary military fort and the lord of Boutemont had a stately home built nearby : a small fortress with a main house, 3 walls surrounded by a water ditch. The courtyard was accessed by a small drawbridge. It is the origin of the current castle.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
THE POSTERN
The entrance to the castle faces north. It is made up of an imposing postern which replaces the original opening opened in the curtain wall and which has all the characteristics of the time of Henry 4. Its base, which plunges into the pits, is made of cut stone. The upper level is made of bricks contained by stone chains. This postern preserves the three grooves intended for the passage of the arms which allow the drawbridges to be raised, one intended for carriages, the other, narrower, for pedestrians.
THE LODGE
This room was recently a music or billiard room. With its characteristic stalls of English Masonic lodges, it would have hosted esoteric meetings, spread in Normandy by an enlightened nobility under English influence.
At the bottom are earthenware with Masonic motifs and on the fireplace, a Masonic Grand Master ceremonial sword, a Templar sword and two Templar helmets.
On the walls hang banners of the great orders of chivalry -Knights Hospitallers, Knights of Calatrava, Teutonic Knights, Templars – as well as banners of great lords of the Middle Ages.
OUTDOOR SPACES
THE GARDENS AND THE PARK
The general organization and the design of the park were imagined at the beginning of the 20th century century by renowned landscape architect Achille Duchêne, at the request of Mr. and Mrs. Drouilly.
By imposing a return to the tradition of French gardens, he wanted to move away from British landscape art, which had been very popular in France since the 19th century. century. An official landscape painter of high society, he designed the largest gardens of his time.
Finally, Armand and Hélène Sarfati, owners for 47 years of Boutemont, enlarged the property, attached to it the feudal motte as well as the large meadows to the south of the Château. We also owe them the Italian garden, the alley of cedars, the topiaries, the alley of red oaks and many creations which have enabled them to obtain the “remarkable garden” label.
The current owners are passionate about Art, Heritage and gardens to which they have devoted their entire career. They want to write a new chapter in the history of Boutemont, with the embellishment of the castle and the gardens, their opening to a large public and the hosting of quality cultural events.
THE GOTHIC LOUNGE
At the entrance to the living room is a magnificent "Germanic stove" from the 18th century. century with its painted ceramic tiles.
To the side : a tapestry representing Charles V hunting a falcon after Van Orley. In the central part, a window with its old stained glass windows, a Gothic chandelier, a fireplace and Renaissance carved wooden furniture called " napkin fold ".
Above the fireplace, the arms of the Boutemonts of sand with three silver cakes » and Villers de Boutemont « Azure a chevron Argent charged with three tassels Vert ".
THE GARDENS AND THE PARK
The general organization and the design of the park were imagined at the beginning of the 20th century century by renowned landscape architect Achille Duchêne, at the request of Mr. and Mrs. Drouilly.
By imposing a return to the tradition of French gardens, he wanted to move away from British landscape art, which had been very popular in France since the 19th century. century. An official landscape painter of high society, he designed the largest gardens of his time.
THE CEDAR ALLEY
Les haies de hêtres, de buis et d'ifs qui bordent les majestueux cèdres centenaires se déploient en une symétrie parfaite, prolongeant ainsi la poterne du château pour s'offrir en spectacle face à l'entrée principale. Cette vue d'ensemble offre un panorama enchanteur et invite à la promenade dans un décor naturel préservé. Les haies soigneusement taillées confèrent au parc une ambiance élégante et raffinée, tandis que les cèdres imposants apportent une touche de majesté à l'ensemble. Cette composition paysagère témoigne de l'excellence et du savoir-faire des créateurs de ce parc, qui ont su allier l'esthétisme à l'harmonie naturelle des lieux.
LES JARDINS EN CHAMBRE DE VERDURE
The White Garden is divided into sections lined with boxwood and the white flowers follow one another throughout the seasons, creating a harmonious whole. A magnificent stone fountain sits in the center of this garden, in an equally elegant pool. In the Purple Garden, let yourself be carried away by the energy of colors, while the Zen Garden invites meditation and inner peace. Finally, on the path leading to the creperie, the Ginkgo Garden, lined with multi-colored hydrangeas, promises you a stroll full of charm.
THE ALLEY OF FLOWERING APPLE TREES AND THE BENCH OF ROSES
This walk located between two meadows is particularly magnificent in spring when the flowering apple trees are adorned with their vibrant pink flowers. This path leads to the rose bench. It guides elegantly to the rose bench, a charming covered seat, surrounded by a profusion of roses. An enchanting place where you can settle down and let yourself be enveloped by the flourishing beauty that surrounds it.
THE EBTS PRICE AND THE REMARKABLE GARDEN LABEL
ETBS PRICE
Boutemont Castle was crowned “the most beautiful garden in Europe” in 2016
The “European boxwood and topiary society” (EBTS, French Association for Topiary Art and Boxwood), awarded it the Grand Prix for the most beautiful garden in Europe.
REMARKABLE GARDEN LABEL
Established in 2004, this official label awarded by the Ministry of Culture distinguishes gardens and parks, presenting cultural, aesthetic, historical or botanical interest, whether public or private.
THE GARDEN OF LOVE
The Garden of Love, located to the south of the castle, was created at the beginning of the 20th century to complete an initial garden composed of topiaries and perspectives. It is distinguished by its flowery districts lined with low boxwood, offering an enchanting spectacle. Visitors can sit and admire this garden, while forgetting the passage of time.
THE WATER MIRROR *
The first elements of the park were created around 1920. The water mirror, designed by the famous landscaper Achille Duchêne, occupies a central place in the park. The plant borders, the rounded columns, the boxwoods cut into balls and canapes were designed by Georges Hayat to frame and highlight the paths and perspectives of the park.
* The water mirror is very deep, watch your children carefully especially if they feed the large Koi carp in the pond)
The history of Château de Boutemont and its lords dates back to the year 1000, with the construction of a feudal motte, surmounted by a wooden tower, intended to control the lower valley of the Touques and the Roman road going from Lisieux to the sea.
The motte was a rudimentary military fort and the lord of Boutemont had a stately home built nearby : a small fortress with a main house, 3 walls surrounded by a water ditch. The courtyard was accessed by a small drawbridge. It is the origin of the current castle.
THE CHAPEL
The chapel was built in 1880, in neo-Gothic style, by Pauline Bouteiller, the chatelaine of the time, in memory of the parish church of Boutemont which no longer existed. Pauline Bouteiller is buried there.
The chapel is dedicated to Saint Lubin, former bishop of Chartres.
THE CHAPEL
The chapel was built in 1880, in neo-Gothic style, by Pauline Bouteiller, the chatelaine of the time, in memory of the parish church of Boutemont which no longer existed. Pauline Bouteiller is buried there.
The chapel is dedicated to Saint Lubin, former bishop of Chartres.
LES ONDES DE BUIS
Topiaries, a technique for pruning trees and shrubs to give them a specific shape, are a direct influence of large "French" gardens and are found almost everywhere in our gardens. Here, boxwoods are pruned into waves to create informal topiaries, a more casual approach to trimming hedges and other plant sculptures. These organic shapes, with their waves, rounded corners, free curves and clusters of volumes, create a form of abstract plant sculpture.
THE GARDENS AND THE PARK
The general organization and the design of the park were imagined at the beginning of the 20th century century by renowned landscape architect Achille Duchêne, at the request of Mr. and Mrs. Drouilly.
By imposing a return to the tradition of French gardens, he wanted to move away from British landscape art, which had been very popular in France since the 19th century. century. An official landscape painter of high society, he designed the largest gardens of his time.
THE ITALIAN GARDEN
Les jardins italiens, nés à la Renaissance, ont profondément influencé l'art des jardins en Europe. Le célèbre architecte-paysagiste Le Nôtre a ainsi puisé son inspiration dans cette tradition pour créer les célèbres jardins à la française. Le tracé de ces jardins est caractérisé par la symétrie des espaces délimités par des haies basses de buis et des allées gravillonnées qui convergent vers des points de fuite soigneusement étudiés. Les topiaires, ces arbustes sculptés avec une grande précision, sont utilisés pour marquer le départ de ces lignes fuyantes et accentuer l'effet de perspective.
Les ornements qui agrémentent ces jardins sont choisis pour s'intégrer harmonieusement à l'ensemble. On trouve ainsi de grands pots de terre cuite finement ouvragés, disposés çà et là pour apporter une touche de couleur et de relief. Des bancs en pierre, à la fois utiles et esthétiques, invitent quant à eux les visiteurs à s'asseoir et à contempler la beauté du lieu. Ces jardins, symboles d'une époque où l'art de vivre et l'art tout court étaient étroitement liés, continuent de fasciner les amateurs de jardins et d'histoire.
THE GARDENS AND THE PARK
The general organization and the design of the park were imagined at the beginning of the 20th century century by renowned landscape architect Achille Duchêne, at the request of Mr. and Mrs. Drouilly.
By imposing a return to the tradition of French gardens, he wanted to move away from British landscape art, which had been very popular in France since the 19th century. century. An official landscape painter of high society, he designed the largest gardens of his time.
THE GARDENS AND THE PARK
The general organization and the design of the park were imagined at the beginning of the 20th century century by renowned landscape architect Achille Duchêne, at the request of Mr. and Mrs. Drouilly.
By imposing a return to the tradition of French gardens, he wanted to move away from British landscape art, which had been very popular in France since the 19th century. century. An official landscape painter of high society, he designed the largest gardens of his time.