Manoir de Douville, Manor estate in Mandeville-en-Bessin, France
Manoir de Douville is a manor with farm buildings and a noble residence arranged around a square courtyard, with structures primarily from the 17th century. The layout combines working spaces and formal areas, showing how a wealthy family organized their property for both practical and social purposes.
The manor came into the hands of Jean de Maillet in the late 15th century, whose family received noble status in 1522. This elevation in rank brought prestige and resources that influenced how the family developed their estate.
The manor displays features from overlapping periods: a Renaissance fireplace in the main hall and Gothic wooden carvings on the gable show how tastes and wealth evolved over time. Visitors can observe these details and understand how residents adapted their spaces across generations.
The property sits a short distance from the village church and is relatively easy to reach. Wear sturdy footwear since the grounds and buildings sit on uneven terrain.
The cellar is topped by a ceremonial chamber, an unusual stacking of practical and formal spaces that reveals the family's wealth and cultivation. This layering of everyday storage with formal reception areas is rarely seen in buildings from this period.
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