Château de Bernouville, château français situé à Hautot-sur-Mer
Château de Bernouville is a ruined castle in Hautot-sur-Mer in Normandy, with only scattered stone remains visible today. These remnants lie buried and hidden within the Bois de Bernouville, a forest planted in the 1800s that now covers what was once the castle grounds.
The castle was likely founded in the 11th or early 12th century when the Hotot family controlled the lands and supported William the Conqueror during the invasion of England in 1066. It fell into decay from the 16th century onward and was eventually used as a stone quarry after the French Revolution left it abandoned.
The Hotot family who built the castle shaped life in the area for centuries and remained closely tied to the local community. The place name itself comes from old words describing the sloped terrain, showing how deeply connected the settlement was to its natural surroundings.
Access is through a forest road from the parking area, which connects to a nature trail that leads into the woods where the hidden ruins are located. Visitors should note that paths may change and it is wise to check for updates before visiting and be prepared for uneven ground.
Religious orders such as the Minimes and later Capuchin friars were permitted to take stones from the ruins to build churches and religious structures. This transformation of castle material into sacred buildings shows how the site's remains served a new purpose after the castle's decline.
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