Château de Saint-Germain-de-Livet
Pays d’Auge castle surrounded by moats, combining a half-timbered manor house with a brick and stone façade; closed until May 2, 2027.
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About the museum
A fortified site has existed here since the 12th century. In 1462 the marriage of Jeanne Louvet to Pierre de Tournebu brought the estate to the Tournebu family, who built a half-timbered manor house over the old fortress. At the end of the 16th century, Jean de Tournebu and Marie de Croismare had the stone and glazed-brick body of the Pré d’Auge built to complete the ensemble; a gallery bears the date 1588.
Over the centuries the château changed hands several times. It was sold in 1879, then passed to Julien Pillaut, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who lived there until his death in 1946. In 1957 his widow, Augusta Pillaut, gave the château and its furnishings to the City of Lisieux. The monument was listed in several stages, in 1924, 1963 and 2007.
Since 2011 the château museum has been part of the Lisieux Normandie museum network, alongside the Museum of Art and History in Lisieux and the Musée du Vieux Manoir in Orbec. It holds the “Musée de France” label. The rooms display furniture and works from the Pillaut family, including paintings by Léon Riesener and by his granddaughter Rosalie Pillaut. The interiors can only be visited with a mediator.
The château is surrounded by moats and a flowering garden where peacocks roam freely. Its interiors are currently being restored and are closed to the public.
Highlights
- 15th- and 16th-century architecture: half-timbered manor house and a façade of glazed brick and stone
- Moats and a flowering garden with free-roaming peacocks
- Furniture and works from the Pillaut family, including paintings by Léon Riesener
- Free 20-minute guided tours on the château’s history and architecture
- Operated by
- Communauté d’agglomération Lisieux Normandie
Admission & discounts
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Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 20 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Wedding photography, drone shots and filming in the park are possible on request to the museum team. |
| Good to know | Free 20-minute guided tours in season at 11:00, 12:00, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30, plus a tour in English at 15:00. Animals are not admitted to the grounds because of the free-roaming peacocks. School groups and other groups are welcomed on request. |
