In Normandy, the Catel manor surprisingly joins the Heritage Loto list

A nice surprise to celebrate the new year. The Catel manor, located in the Caux region in Écretteville-lès-Baons (Seine-Maritime), was selected among the five Norman monuments to benefit from subsidies allocated by the Mission Bern and its Heritage Loto, created to save the monuments in danger. And this, while the envelope granted to it today was initially dedicated to the restoration of the Clos-masure de Guillerville. « This change was made in particular at the request of the association which manages the place due to a lack of maturity of the project, […] paused for the moment »declared Olivier Leclerc, regional delegate of the Heritage Foundation, at Parisian .

In total, the oldest fortified house in Normandy – erected before 1270, under Saint-Louis – will receive 130,000 euros in subsidies. Something to rejoice the owner of the place, Frédéric Toussaint, who will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the purchase of this manor in 2025: « When we received the phone call at the beginning of December from the Heritage Foundation, there was a lot of joy. Especially since everything is ready to start the work ! »

Welcoming more tourists

The 130,000 euros should allow Frédéric Toussaint to finalize the restoration of the two large surrounding walls dating from the 13th century.^e century. But also the installation of wooden doors in the towers and the construction of « the large access door to the manor which looks a bit like that of Jumièges Abbey »explains the owner to Parisian. Adding that this entire project requires « overall envelope [qui] will probably be around 300,000 euros ». « In 2025, most of the restoration of the Catel manor will be completed with, at the same time, the creation of a real reception area »promises the one who is also an author of children’s stories.

 

« In 2025, most of the restoration of the Catel mansion will be completed”

Frédéric Toussaint, owner of the Catel manor

Because the medieval site must be able to properly accommodate the numerous events already scheduled to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the purchase. The owner wants to open a medieval bar four times during the summer and organize an exhibition dedicated to the drinks concocted at the time. « We have exceeded the 5,000 visitor mark and we want to do everything we can to welcome even more »insists Frédéric Toussaint.

Also read
Heritage Loto: more than 28 million donated to the Heritage Foundation

1.16 million euros allocated to Normandy

Last September, the Heritage Loto awarded 1.16 million euros in grants to five restoration projects in Normandy. The Church of the Holy Trinity in Falaise (Calvados), the former Saint-Paul church in Granville (Manche) and the Notre-Dame-de-la-Trappe abbey in Soligny-la-Trappe (Orne), will receive 300,000 euros, the maximum sum set by the Heritage Foundation.

The last monument in the Normandy region affected by this aid is located in Eure. Like the Catel manor, it is a former ribbon factory located in Saint-Aubin-de-Scellon which will also receive 130,000 euros in subsidies. This money will allow the owners of this 19th century building^e century to renovate the frame and roof of the building, as well as part of the frames, for a potential opening to the public within a few years.