Château de Sotteville

Château de Sotteville is a manor house set in a valley near the northern coast of Normandy, roughly 10 kilometers from the sea. The building combines residential and defensive elements and is surrounded by gardens redesigned in the English style during the 19th century.

The Durevie family built this structure between 1593 and 1610, replacing earlier medieval buildings on the site. In the late 1800s, the estate underwent significant modernization and redesign.

The building displays characteristic features of the Cotentin region with square window frames and triangular gables that mark the entire structure. These design elements reflect how local building traditions shaped the way people constructed their homes in this part of Normandy.

The estate opens its outdoor areas to visitors only during certain months, with guided tours available to explore the gardens and grounds. It is useful to check when tours are offered and how much time to allow for a full visit beforehand.

The estate contains a 19th-century wash house still fed by a natural stream, serving as a reminder of handcraft techniques from earlier times. This functional building is a rare example of everyday infrastructure that typically does not survive.