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Base Mérimée: Monuments historiques · France

Vieux château

Aubry-en-Exmes, Orne, France

The record

Designation
Historic monument, classified (classé)
Protection
classé MH
Extent of protection
Vieux château et restes de l'ancien donjon sur lequel il a été édifié (cad. A 98) : classement par arrêté du 17 avril 1968
Protection dates
1968/04/17 : classé MH
Type
château
Main period of construction
14e siècle
Ownership
propriété privée
Commune
Aubry-en-Exmes
Département
Orne
Region
Normandie
Country
France
Coordinates
48.80748, 0.07946
Mérimée reference
PA00110732

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1759 map "62 Argentan, Falaise." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

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This record on the Ministère de la Culture's POP platform ↗

The Ministère de la Culture's notice

Demeure datant du règne de Henri IV, bâtie sur un donjon probablement du 14e siècle. Le dernier était un bastion fortifié faisant partie, au Moyen Age, du système défensif de la forteresse d'Exmes. Cette dernière était entourée d'une ceinture de petites places fortes dont Aubry-en-Exmes faisait partie. Le donjon circulaire, entouré de douves, devait défendre la haute vallée de la Dives. A l'époque de Henri IV, les seigneurs décidèrent d'édifier une demeure aristocratique sur l'ancien donjon. En 1808, le propriétaire décida de construire près du vieux château une nouvelle demeure plus spacieuse, laissant à l'abandon l'ancien édifice. Selon la tradition, le donjon servit de refuge à Montgomery fuyant la colère de Catherine de Médicis.

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Dwelling dating from the reign of Henri IV, built on a keep probably from the 14th century. The latter was a fortified bastion forming part, in the Middle Ages, of the defensive system of the fortress of Exmes. The latter was surrounded by a girdle of small fortified places of which Aubry-en-Exmes was part. The circular keep, surrounded by moats, was to defend the upper valley of the Dives. At the time of Henri IV, the lords decided to build an aristocratic dwelling on the former keep. In 1808, the owner decided to build near the old castle a new more spacious dwelling, leaving the old building to fall into disrepair. According to tradition, the keep served as a refuge for Montgomery fleeing the wrath of Catherine de Medici.

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Base Mérimée, Ministère de la Culture, data last updated 2026-09-17, reused under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab). Record text is reproduced unchanged. Ministère de la Culture · Licence Ouverte 2.0
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