The castle of Ételan is a castle of XVe century (1494) of blazing Renaissance style located at Saint-Maurice-in Ételan in Seine-Maritime. Inscription on the additional Inventory of the historic buildings on April 16, 1941.
Situation
Located on Right Bank of the Seine, between the bridges of Brotonne and Tancarville, dominating the last loop of the river, the castle of Ételan enjoys an exceptional site. It is a privileged place where the environment did not vary centuries since. Place of calm and serenity, Ételan and its park of more than 20 hectares are resolutely out of time.
History
A marble plate sealed in the cabinet of Ételan recalls the list of the owners of the field since 1383. It is into 1494 that Louis Picard, baillif de Troyes and of Tournaisis, friend and chamberlain of the King Louis XII, that it will accompany in Italy, undertakes the construction of the current castle. Its grand-daughter, Charlotte d' Esquetot, marry Charles of Thimble, marshal of Brissac. In August 1563, this one receives with Ételan Catherine de Médicis, then regent, and the young king Charles IX who have just taken again Le Havre with the English (July 27, 1563). It is with the castle of Ételan that the Regent, on August 4, 1563, on the councils of Michel of Hospital, decides to proclaim, with one year in advance, the majority of the King. In Ételan, it makes write, then sign and seals the Letters of majority of the King . The castle remains the property of the marshals of Brissac until 1621, year when it passes by marriage to the family of Épinay-Saint-Luc, who will sell it in 1714 to Charles Henaut. His/her son, Jean-François Henaut, President at the Parliament of Paris and superintendent of the House of the queen Marie Leczinska, will receive it from his father. President Henaut, historian celebrate, large friend of Voltaire and of the Philosophers, will bequeath it in 1770, with its nephew, the Tale of Jonzac. As from 1774, the castle will be successively the property of the families Belhomme de Glatigny, Deshommets de Martainville, Deschamps de Boishébert, Desgenetais, Calstelbajac and Charbonnière. The chronicle or the legend teaches us that the following characters remained or passed to Ételan: Louis XI (June 6-July 13, 1475), François Ier (during the construction of the Hâvre-of-Grace), Catherine de Médicis and Charles IX in company of the futures Henri III, Henri IV, of Marguerite de Navarre and Michel of Hospital (August 1563). Voltaire in (1723-1724). Andre Caplet, type-setter Grand Prix of Rome, will often remain there and will complete there in particular his famous mass with three votes.
Structure
Historic building, registered voter with the additional inventory, the castle of Ételan was built as from 1494 per Louis Picard on the site of a strong castle, shaved on the orders of Louis XI. There remains medieval construction only one cellar, a wall enclosing and the house of the guards gone back to 1350. Of Gothic style blazing, the building is contemporary Law courts and hotel of Bourgtheroulde of Rouen, as well as old castle of Clères. It is composed of two main buildings to equipment of stones and alternate bricks connected to each other by a gallery of stone staircase dating from the first Rebirth.
The Vault
Integral part of the principal building, the vault of the castle, dedicated to Sainte Madeleine, is the jewel. The Cochet abbot compared it with that of the castle of Blois or Amboise. Indeed, it is a single place where are joined together polychrome stained glasses, frescos and statues of what was the first Rebirth Norman and whose initiators were the famous cardinals of Amboise. Classified historic building in 1980, the State, the Department, the Friends of the castle of Ételan and the owners continued work during 17 years. The restoration was finished in 1994 for the 500e birthday of its construction. One can admire also there a stoup of XVIe century, a swimming pool of the XVIIe century and woodworks troubadour.