Claville-Motteville

High upon the slopes overlooking the Cailly valley, the Gouville estate undergoes a spectacular transformation under the direction of its owner, Count Adrien de Germiny. This high official, who serves as the Treasurer-Paymaster General, restores modern brilliance to his ancestral lands, combining hydraulic feats with botanical splendours.

An Exceptional Mastery of Water

The visitor travelling through the valley first discovers an artificial lake of more than four hectares. Created in a formerly mediocre meadow, this body of water, dotted with islands, is fed by an abundant spring. Upstream, the Count installs an extensive pisciculture (fish farming) establishment, marking his keen interest in agricultural innovation.

However, the true technical marvel lies in the irrigation system. Two powerful pumps, driven by hydraulic wheels, raise the spring water to the summit of the hill. They discharge it into a large basin dug within the park, behind the château. From there, the water is redistributed via canals across the hillside pastures, serving as a powerful fertilising agent for the once-arid soil.

A Sanctuary of Glass and Greenery

The château itself undergoes significant changes. A vast brick residence replaces the old seignorial manor, and a winter garden is now annexed to it. Outside stand splendid greenhouses, considered unrivaled in the region for the number and rarity of the plants, shrubs, and flowers they house.

This horticultural complex allows the vegetable garden to yield fruit at entirely unexpected times of the year. The diversity of this exotic flora and the beauty of the flowerbeds make Gouville an essential destination for botany enthusiasts.

An Estate Open to the Publi

One of the distinctive features of this property is the urbanity of its master. Count de Germiny brings great grace to allowing curious visitors to enjoy the amenities of his estate. Whether to admire the lake, the hunting, or the wonderful greenhouses, visitors flock to Gouville each year, drawn to what contemporaries already call an "enchanted residence". Through these grandiose works, the Count does more than merely restore his heritage; he fashions a landscape where human genius serves nature.