The 26-meter high watchtower of Bonvouloir

In the heart of rural Normandy lies a striking relic of the past, a tower that has stood the test of time - La tour de Bonvouloir. Located in the new commune of Juvigny Val d'Andaine in the Orne department, this structure is a significant remnant of the late 15th-century château de Bonvouloir. The ruins of the old castle are classified as historical monuments, with the tower itself standing as a prominent feature near the edge of the Andaine forest.

The history of the site dates back to 1485, when the fief was created by René, Duke of Alençon, for his counselor and master of household Guyon Essirard. In 1515, it passed to the Achard family of Bonvouloir, who counted several governors of the town of Domfront. During the 17th century, the castle was transformed into a farmhouse, and a dovecote was installed in an old tower during the 18th century. Over time, the domain was dismantled stone by stone to build a barn, a press, and for farm maintenance.

The tower is characterized by a large fortified corner tower with machicolations, which may be older than the rest of the castle. It is flanked by a very tall and slender cylindrical watchtower reaching 26.50 meters in height, topped with a bell-shaped roof and a cornice of modillions. Inside, a stone staircase allows visitors to reach the summit to view the surrounding area. The entrance to this tower is topped with a small bretèche.

Adjacent to the main tower are the remains of another tower transformed into a dovecote, fragments of a rampart, a 33-meter deep well, and an old chapel that was once converted into a house. The site also includes a pond and an orchard. Visitors can view the site freely from the outside throughout the year, observing a structure that has survived while the rest of the medieval estate was dismantled stone by stone to build barns, presses, and farm buildings.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons