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Thearchitecture of Normandy spans a thousand years.
InUpper Normandy and in thepays d'Auge,Mortainais,Passais andAvranchin (Lower Normandy),[1] the vernacular domesticarchitecture is typicallyhalf-timbered andthatched.
The half-timbered farmhouses scattered across the countryside are inherited from an older tradition that has its roots in the Celtic farms, the remains of which have been excavated by archeologists. A particular style of farmstead calledclos masure orcour-masure developed in thePays de Caux as a result of the harsher landscape of that area and local tradition, which has been influenced by English and Danish styles.
Brick and flintstone were later used to build or rebuild some of the cottages and public buildings, such as town halls. Some villages of the pays de Caux and thePays de Bray were entirely rebuilt this way.
The other parts ofLower Normandy, especially theCotentin Peninsula, tends to use granite as the predominant local building material. TheChannel Islands also share this influence –Chausey was for many years a source of quarried granite, including stone for the construction of Mont Saint-Michel. TheCaen plain and the area ofBessin use the traditional unusually hard limestone, calledCaen stone.
Like almost everywhere in France, the oldest houses in the main cities are half-timbered, but there are more widespread in Haute-Normandie and there are more recent examples.
The urban architectural heritage of mainland Normandy was badly damaged during theBattle of Normandy in 1944. Many historic urban centres were destroyed, notably in Caen,Rouen,Lisieux and perhaps most tragically inValognes, once known as the "Versailles of Normandy" for its aristocratic mansions and palaces. Massive post-war urban reconstruction in the 1950s and 1960s, such as inLe Havre andSaint-Lô, has left modernist interventions.
A distinctive feature of Normandy is its large number of castles and manors. The region was significantly influenced by the presence of English administration and military forces before and during theHundred Years' War.[2][3] The religious wars also contributed to the architectural style typical of the region.[4] From the Late Middle Ages to the Renaissance, Normandy's architecture evolved under English influence, resulting in the proliferation of manors. In France such buildings can only be found in Normandy andBrittany; they were introduced by the English administration during the reign of thePlantagenets. The Manoir du Catel and theManoir du Clap exemplify this type of building.
From the 17th century to the late 19th century, Normandy experienced considerable prosperity, prompting many noble families to erect castles. These castles, no longer serving defensive purposes, became symbols of wealth and status. The Château de Bosmelet is a notable example of such a château.
The confidentchurch architecture such as atLessay andBayeux has left its mark on the landscape, as well as an artistic legacy in literature and in art, for exampleClaude Monet'sseries ofImpressionist paintings of theRouen Cathedral'sGothic facade.
The south part ofBagnoles-de-l'Orne, which is calledBelle Époque district is filled with superb bourgeois villas with polychrome façades, bow windows and unique roofing. This area, built between 1886 and 1914, has an authentic "Bagnolese" style and is typical of high-society country vacation of the time.
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