Brécourt Castle

Built around 1625 by Jean Jubert, Noble of Brécourt and Douains, the castle remained in the Jubert family until 1706. A fine example of Louis XIII architecture, it is built with typical brick patterns and stone. They say that it was at Brécourt Castle, in about 1760 while owned by Monsieur de Bréhan, that the philosopher and mathematician d’Alembert became interested in alchemy. In 1792 the castle came into the ownership of the Marquis of Bouville, and then to a marshal of the empire, the Marquis of Perignon, from1802 until 1903.

In 1793, the castle was the setting of a tragicomic event: the vanguard of the Normandy federates revolting against the Convention, marched upon Vernon to cut supplies to Paris. In Brécourt the federates came up against Convention troops. Guns were fired, creating panic amongst the ranks of the Convention. But it was an extremely hot day, and the federalists preferred to remain in the shade of the linden trees rather than follow the Convention troops to Vernon. So they rested, quenched their thirst, and napped. The Convention troops returned with reinforcements to find the federalists drunk under the trees. The battle was therefore named ‘The tearless battle’ as no blood had flowed, unlike the wine and cider, which flowed profusely.

By the end of the 19th Century the surrounding area of Norman Vexin became the favored subject of painters from Corot to Bonnard. Monet settled in Giverny, a few kilometers from Brécourt. Pissaro, Daubigny, Luce and Lépine found much of interest here. From that time on images of the surrounding market towns decorated the walls of the major museums of the world. Michelet wrote most of his ‘History of France’ in Vascoeil while in Roche, Guyon François de la Rochefoucauld composed his maxims and Alphonse de Lamartine his meditations.

Today Brécourt castle is classified as a historical monument. An exceptional, private place to enjoy a meal where every dish is a recipe from chefs from the ‘Grand Siècle’; an ambiance to enjoy small pleasures from a great era.