Médavy: Château and Heritage

In Médavy, historical highlights range from the Château de Médavy, with its medieval origins, to the church of the Prieuré Notre-Dame-du-Repos, built between the 12th and 15th centuries. There is also a 33 km cycling loop dedicated to the heritage of the Orne department.

Château de Médavy: Architecture and Protected Status

The Château de Médavy is an 18th-century neoclassical manor house whose architecture was inspired by Mansart. It was built on the foundations of an older fortress. Jacques-Léonor Rouxel de Médavy had the main building constructed between 1704 and 1725. These dates refer to that building; the older fortress represents an earlier part of the estate’s history.

The Château is protected as a historic monument. Since 1989, its façades and roofs, as well as the Tour Saint-Pierre, the Tour Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the chapel, have been classified. The rest of the château has been listed since 1926. These dates indicate the respective protection status, not the construction period.

The protected grounds include preserved avenues of lime trees, moats with three bridges, and terraces with balustrades. Access to the grounds may vary. For a visit, the specific visitor arrangements are therefore relevant, not just the site’s protected status.

Visits, Gardens and Collections

A guided tour of the Château explores its history through its buildings, architecture and gardens, from its medieval origins through its heyday in the 17th and 18th centuries. Tour dates vary by season; check them before your trip.

The Château’s ship collection comprises 44 models, including the Titanic, the Charles de Gaulle, Christopher Columbus’s Santa Maria, the Belem, the Pen Duick and the Hermione. The Tour Saint-Pierre is also associated with contemporary art by living, internationally renowned artists such as Hubert Le Gall, Jean-Michel Othoniel and Johanna Vasconcelos. During the 2026 visitor season, visitors must climb a total of 83 steps to reach all the rooms in the Tour Saint-Pierre.

The Prieuré Notre-Dame-du-Repos

The church of the Prieuré Notre-Dame-du-Repos in Médavy dates from the 12th to the 15th century. It served as a rest stop for the Premonstratensian canons of Silly-en-Gouffern Abbey. Traces of 13th-century wall paintings remain on the choir walls. In Médavy, the church’s construction history thus sits alongside evidence of its former use.

The priory church is classified as a historic monument. Also listed are the cemetery, including its enclosure and cross; the façades and roofs of the former 17th-century infirmary; and the façades and roofs of the 18th-century barn and adjoining press. The protection details thus distinguish the church from the priory’s other buildings and grounds.

Discover the Heritage by Bike

The “À vélo – Les châteaux” cycling loop is 33 km long and runs from Médavy via Mortrée to Saint-Christophe-le-Jajolet. It offers a way to discover the heritage of the Orne department. Check that the route is available before setting off.

When planning your trip, you can choose between focusing on architectural history, visiting the château and exploring its collections, or taking a longer cycling loop. The route offers a separate way to explore the department’s heritage and should not be confused with the Château’s seasonal tour dates.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Bômer-Les-Forges, Lonlay-L'abbaye, Réveillon, Ménil-Hermei, Montreuil-La-Cambe, Saint-Cornier-Des-Landes, Saint-Aubin-De-Bonneval, Aubry-En-Exmes.

For the broader travel overview: Orne.