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Merlerault Castle

Merlerault-le-Pin

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where
Merlerault-le-Pin

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

Ensemble castral du Merlerault stands in Merlerault-le-Pin (Orne), in the Normandie region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: Middle Ages). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

At the place known as le Château Clos, in the commune of Merlerault, stands an earthwork motte that formed the heart of a Norman feudal barony as early as the 10th or 11th century. The site consists of a circular mound encircled by a double earthen rampart, itself set apart by dry ditches. Visitors come here for the shape of the land rather than standing buildings, since no structure has survived above ground, though the outline of the defences remains visible. The place recalls the du Merle family and later the Paynels, who held it through marriage and inheritance.

Written from Ensemble castral du Merlerault

What to know

  • The site is an earthen motte with a double rampart and dry ditches, with no visible building today.
  • The visit takes place outdoors on uneven ground, so some walking ability is needed.
  • No opening hours or admission fees need to be checked beforehand for this site.
  • The whole has been a listed historic monument since 1989.
  • The place suits a short visit focused on observing the earthworks rather than a museum-style tour.

Where this château is

Merlerault-le-Pin · Orne · Normandie

Map of the area around Ensemble castral du Merlerault

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

61240 Merlerault-le-Pin

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status
Registered historic monument (inscrit)
Mérimée record PA00110977
Period of construction
Middle Ages

Base map © IGN, Géoplateforme

Itineraries

Frequently asked

Can you visit the Merlerault castle?
No standing building remains: what survives is an earthen motte with its ramparts and ditches, visible outdoors.
How old is the Merlerault motte?
Historians date it to the 10th or 11th century, at the origin of the du Merle-Raoul barony.
Which families owned the site?
The du Merle family first, then from 1385 the Paynels through marriage and inheritance.
Is the site protected?
Yes, the castral ensemble has been listed as a historic monument since an order of 1989.

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Sources

Identity, location and official references from Wikidata and the Mérimée register.

Within an hour’s drive

The most visited in this department — Orne

From the same period — Moyen Age