Moats with three bridges, preserved avenues of lime trees and terraces with balustrades shape the protected grounds of the Château de Médavy. Its architecture and landscaped grounds are closely connected. Before visiting, check the current access conditions and seasonal tour dates: access to the grounds may vary, and tours take place seasonally.
The Château’s history and construction phases
The Château de Médavy is an 18th-century neoclassical manor house, inspired by Mansart’s architecture and built on the foundations of an older fortress. The Château’s main building was constructed between 1704 and 1725 by Jacques-Léonor Rouxel de Médavy. The site’s history therefore goes back further than the construction of the present main building.
The heritage protection also covers different parts of the estate and dates from several periods: the façades and roofs, as well as the Tour Saint-Pierre, the Tour Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the chapel, have been classified since 1989. The rest of the château has been listed since 1926. This distinction helps make clear that the protected status does not apply only to the main building.
A seasonal guided tour explores the estate’s history through its buildings, architecture and gardens. It reaches back to the medieval origins and follows the estate’s heyday in the 17th and 18th centuries. This offers an understanding of the Château’s development not only through individual architectural features, but also in the wider context of its construction history.
The boat collection comprises 44 models, including the Titanic, Charles de Gaulle, Christopher Columbus’s Santa Maria, Belem, Pen Duick and Hermione. Contemporary art by living, internationally renowned artists, including Hubert Le Gall, Jean-Michel Othoniel and Johanna Vasconcelos, is also displayed in the Tour Saint-Pierre. During the 2026 visitor season, visitors had to climb a total of 83 steps to reach all the rooms in the Tour Saint-Pierre. If you are planning a visit in a later season, please check the access information in force at that time.
The Prieuré Notre-Dame-du-Repos
Another trace of Médavy’s history is the priory church of the Prieuré Notre-Dame-du-Repos. Dating from the 12th to 15th centuries, it served as a place of rest for the Premonstratensian canons of Silly-en-Gouffern Abbey. Traces of 13th-century wall paintings survive on the choir walls. The priory’s history thus differs from that of the Château: the focus here is on the church’s earlier function and the surviving traces of painted decoration.
The priory church is classified as a historic monument. Also listed are the cemetery with its enclosure and cross, the façades and roofs of the former 17th-century infirmary, and the façades and roofs of the 18th-century barn, together with the adjoining wine press. These protected features show that the priory comprises more than just the church.
Discover cultural heritage by bike
For a different way to discover cultural heritage, the 33-kilometre circular cycling route “A vélo – Les châteaux” runs from Médavy via Mortrée to Saint-Christophe-le-Jajolet. It offers a way to discover the cultural heritage of the Orne department. Alongside the stories of the Château and priory, the route connects several places, without requiring any particular length of stay. Before setting off, check that the route is available. To choose what to focus on: the Château and priory offer architectural and art history, while the cycling loop provides a way to discover cultural heritage across several places.
Discover more destinations: Omméel, Lignou, Carrouges, La Chapelle-Montligeon, Marchemaisons, Tinchebray-Bocage, Macé, Mahéru.
Go to the main travel overview: Orne.
