Normandy

Having taken the Normandy beaches, we have finally arrived au Château d'Harcourt, which originally consisted of earthworks, before being built with wood and finally in stone. Today, this impressive twelfth-fourteenth century castle is a fine example of medieval architecture, one of the best-preserved in Normandy. The western side retains its medieval appearance, with a double moat, fortified courtyard and circular towers on either side of the facade.

Having played a defensive role in the fourteenth century, the castle took on a residential purpose in the seventeenth century. The eastern side bears witness to the work undertaken to transition towards a more classical architecture, typical of country residences. This can be seen in the filled-in moats, the terrace leading to a flower garden (previously a typical French-style garden), a facade with high classical windows and apartments decorated with wood panelling and parquet floors. Harcourt lies in the middle of a vast 200 hundred year old Arboretum.



One of the largest tree gardens in France, the Harcourt Arboretum is a unique botanical collection in terms of both the age and the dimensions of the specimens it comprises: over five hundred species, some of which are between one hundred and fifty and two hundred years old – and over forty metres tall.

Some of the greatest names in the worlds of horticulture, botany and forestry – including Delamarre, Michaux, Pépin and Vilmorin, all of whom worked here at some time since 1810 – have left their mark on its history. It is home to outstanding, majestic trees such as cedars of Lebanon, a London plane, giant sequoias and thuyas, unusual trees such as dwarf beeches, and primitive trees from another age such as ginkgo bilobas and dawn redwoods. Harcourt is now a vast expanse to be explored, Sydney, or simply to enjoy a walk in the woods this beautiful Friday evening.

Harcourt Normandy