Château d'Ételan

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Chateau d'Etelan - Normandy (France)

Location of Château d'Etelan in France

The Château d'Ételan was originally a castle, later coverted to a 15th century Renaissance mansion. It is located in the commune of Saint-Maurice-d'Etelan in the Seine-Maritime département in Normandy, France. Situated on the right bank ot the Seine between the Brotonne and Tancarville bridges, the Château d’Etelan commands an exceptional site overlooking the final loop of the river Seine. It is a privileged area where the environment has remained unchanged for centuries. Calm and serene, Etelan and the surrounding park appear timeless.

1 Description
2 Etelan and its history
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Description

Architecture : The château is listed as a monument historique in the « Historical Monuments File » of the French Ministry of Culture. Completed in 1494 by Louis Picard, the Château d’Etelan was built on the site of a fortress which has been destroyed under the order of Louis XI. Of the medieval contruction, only the cellar, the castle wall and the guard house dating from 1350 remain.

Constructed in a flamboyant gothic style, it is the contemporary with the Law Court and the hôtel de Bourgtheroulde in Rouen and as old as the Château de Clères. The building consists of two dwellings built from layers of bricks and stones and joined together by a magnificent stone staircase dating from the first Renaissance.

The Chapel : As integral part of the main building, the Chapel, dedicated to Mary Magdalene, is the "jewel" of the Château. It is the only place where one can find together, the stained glass windows, wall paintings and statues which characterised the first norman Renaissance.

The chapel

[edit] Etelan and its history

It was in 1494 that Louis Picard, magistrate of Troyes and Tournaisis, friend and chamberllin of King Louis XII with whom he went to Italy, undertook the construction of the chateau. His grand daughter, Charlotte d’Esquetot, married Charles de Cossé, Duke of Brissac.

In August 1563, the Regent, Catherine de' Medici and the young King Charles IX visited Etelan, having just recaptured Le Havre from the British (July 27th, 1563). Thus it was in Etelan that Regent, advised by Michel de l'Hôpital decided to proclam one year early the majority of the King (August 4th, 1563).

At Etelan she had drawn up, signed and sealed the letter proclaiming "the King’s of age" convening the Parliament of Rouen to register the summons.

History or legend tells us that the following people have spent time at Etelan : Louis XI (June 6th – July 13th, 1475), François I (during the construction of le Havre, the « Port de Grâce »), Catherine de Medicis and Charles IX with the future kings Henry III and Henry IV, Marguerite de Navarre and Michel de l'Hôpital (August, 1563), Voltaire (1723 – 1724). André Caplet, composer and winner of the Grand Prix of Rome often stayed in Etelan and composed some of his works there including Mass for three voices.