Château de Tancarville

Raoul, chamberlain of the Duke of Normandy, first had walls and the old tower built. In the 12th century the square tower with walls 1.65 metres thick was built. In 1316, Jeanne de Tancarville, sole heiress, married Jean II de Melun and their son became the second earl of Tancarville. In 1417, the Countess Marguerite married Jacques d'Harcourt . In 1418 at the time of the conquest of Normandy by Henry V of England, the title of Count of Tancarville was given to John Grey, while in the kingdom of France it was used by the House of Harcourt who recovered the castle after the departure of the English.

In 1709, a wing in classical style was added to the medieval parts of the building by the Count of Evreux. After the French Revolution in 1789, the castle was looted and partly burned down.

For 29 years, from 1910 to 1939, the castle was rented by Mr. Fernand Prat and his wife born Jehanne Leblanc (sister of Maurice Leblanc) who received many personalities of the arts and letters such as Maurice Maeterlinck and his companion Georgette Leblanc, Colette, Margaret Caroline Anderson, James Joyce, Bertrand de Jouvenel, Pierre Lecomte Nouy and Louis Fabulet.

In the 1960s, the castle served as a summer camp for children in the area.

The title of Earl of Tankerville is still extant in the Peerage of Great Britain.

The castle now belongs to Saqqara, a real estate company in Figeac (Lot), which has been offering luxury apartments since 2001. While waiting to be renovated, it remains closed to the public.

• List of castles in France

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Château de Tancarville.

• Base Mérimée: Château de Tancarville, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
• History of the chateau with images and updates on current restoration.