The V1 rocket ramp behind the manor

The Château de Crosville-sur-Douve is a 15th-century fortified residence in the Manche department of Normandy. It was the possession of the Boudet family, who took the name Crosville in 1365. The estate became the center of an agricultural operation after the family line ended in 1742, eventually leading to the manor being used as a barn and agricultural building.

During the occupation, a launch ramp for V1 rockets was constructed behind the east gable of the château. This project employed 150 prisoners, including women and children, many of whom may have died from typhus under surveillance. The ramp remained unfinished when the Americans arrived. The structure today features a 15th-century circular keep and a 16th-century staircase turret, with a main logis built around 1654 featuring tall mullioned windows and flat triangular pediments.

Restoration work began in the late 1980s after the domaine was sold to the Lefol family. Using public subsidies and prize money, the owners replaced 70% of the timber frame and installed a new roof by 1994. While the interior still requires renovation, the château remains a site for various events and is partially listed as a historical monument.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons