Martainville Castle

Martainville Castle, locally known as Château de Martainville, lies in the village of Martainville-Épreville, in the Seine-Maritime department in France.

Martainville Castle was built between 1495 and 1505 by Jacques Le Pelletier, a shipowner and merchant from a rich upper-middle class family from Rouen. The castle never served a defensive purpose but was intended and used as a manor house.

Shortly after completion Le Pelletier died without issue and the castle went to a cousin. This cousin started to squander his new-gotten fortune until he died in 1545. His son Richard on the other hand again pushed his family higher on the social ladder and became chamberlain to Henry III of France.

During the 17th century Louis Le Pelletier de Martainville was Lord of Martainville. He lived at the court at Versailles but received a considerable revenue from farming activities on his lands around the castle.

In 1757 the last of the Martainvilles died without issue and the castle started to be handed through several families through inheritance. During the Franco-Prussian War from 1870 the castle was damaged.

In 1905 the dilapidated Martainville Castle was sold, for the first time in its history. Its new owner was a cattle merchant. He started to cut down all the trees on the property, sold the interior of the castle and planned to demolish the castle as well. At the last moment the castle was bought by the State in 1906. Later the castle was restored and now houses a museum of Norman arts and traditions.

At present Martainville Castle can be visited for a fee. Sadly enough they were just closing when I came by. A very nice castle.

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