Beaumesnil Castle (Château de Beaumesnil)

Château de Beaumesnil is a stunning 17th-century Baroque castle in Normandy, often called "The Norman Versailles" for its architectural grandeur. Built between 1633-1641 for Marie Dauvet-Desmarets, the castle showcases the distinctive Louis XIII style with its brick-and-stone facade adorned with elaborate sculptures and carved heads. The interior features 15 magnificently furnished rooms accessible through a remarkable aerial staircase - a revolutionary engineering marvel with no support pillars. The castle houses the Musée de la Reliure (Bookbinding Museum), displaying over 450 antique book bindings including rare incunabula from the Fürstenberg collection. Surrounding the castle are 4 hectares of formal French gardens designed by La Quintinie, an assistant to Le Nôtre of Versailles fame, plus 60 hectares of romantic English parkland. The castle is open seasonally from late April to late September, primarily on weekends and holidays from 14:00-18:00. Owned by the Fondation Fürstenberg-Beaumesnil, each ticket purchase directly supports ongoing restoration efforts.