Château de Belbeuf, 18th century château in Belbeuf, France.
Château de Belbeuf is an 18th century manor house in Normandy featuring balustraded terraces and stone walls that frame its structure. Inside, a grand staircase with ornate wrought-iron railings demonstrates the refined craftsmanship typical of this period.
Jean Pierre Prosper Godart de Belbeuf, prosecutor general of the Normandy Parliament and third Marquis of Belbeuf, built the château from 1764 to 1780 to his own plans, replacing a 16th-century manor demolished for materials; only its polygonal dovecote survives. The family held it until 1906, when it passed to the de Mathan family. During World War II it was occupied by tank commander Michael Wittmann in 1943–1944, then by refugees; abandoned, its roof frame collapsed in 1956 and a 1957 auction dispersed its valuables. The Anciennes Mutuelles (later AXA) bought it in 1958 and restored it, inaugurating their new headquarters in the park in 1968.
The château takes its name from the Godart family, marquis de Belbeuf, who built it between 1764 and 1780. The interior decoration was entrusted to Jean Boullenois, Le Charpentier, Brune and Jean Chevallier, and the park was laid out by Legris. Since 2020 it has belonged to the Rouen leatherworker Paul Marius, and it can now be rented for events.
The estate sits in a rural area of Normandy and is visible from nearby roads, though public access is restricted. Visitors should check in advance whether tours or viewings are available, as it remains a private property.
The 1958 restoration by Les Anciennes Mutuelles replaced the original slate roofs, a cluster of separate pavilions, with a single flat roof ringed by balustrades. The central staircase cage survived with its wrought-iron rail and pilasters, but lost the dome that once crowned it.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,991 contributors worldwide.