CHÂTEAU DE CROSVILLE-SUR-DOUVE

Not much is known of the château’s origins before construction in the second half of the 15th century except that there was a castle keep and a set of double arches before entering the inner courtyard.  The château itself was constructed in the early half of the 17th century.  The family Boudet that included the Lord of Crosville, Jean, in 1463, originally owned the property.  It mixes the styles Gothic, Renaissance and Classical.   Uninhabited since 1742, it was purchased by the Le Fol family in 1980.  In 1987 the Friends of the Château was formed and restoration work has been carried out.  The interior is quite beautiful with its large beams, painted walls, pillared fireplaces and a monumental central staircase.  Still, a lot of work must be done to bring back the original splendor to this handsome building.  In 2000, the château, its façades, roofs of the common buildings, the base of the garden and its surrounding walls, the gatehouse and its turret and two corner pavilions which outline the garden were all designated as historic monuments.  Over the weekend was the annual Journées des Plantes     Franco-Britanniques with over 80 garden specialists participating.  Everything was so nicely laid out on either side of the path leading to the entrance of the château.  I lack space in my garden for a huge variety of plants so I ended up purchasing only six geraniums—I still don’t know where I’m going to plant them !