Explore Castillon through its landscaped gardens, architectural history and milling technology. These themes take different forms: at the Jardins, enclosed spaces and terraces shape the design, while the Château, church and Moulin offer points of connection to architectural and technological history. This contrast can help you decide which aspects interest you most during your stay; the classified natural site adds its own protected-area dimension.

Gardens: eight spaces and a series of terraces

Les Jardins de Castillon comprise eight enclosed garden spaces. They include a water garden, flower-lined paths, an Oriental garden and fragrant gardens. The spaces give the grounds a clear layout, while their different names indicate distinct design motifs. If you are especially interested in gardens, you can use their forms and themes to distinguish the individual areas.

A second garden follows a different organizing principle: three successive terraces bring together clipped yew trees, boxwood borders and a maze. The eight enclosed spaces emphasize several distinct garden areas, while the second garden is defined by the sequence of its terraces. The two gardens can therefore be seen as different designs, rather than repetitions of the same pattern.

The gardens also took shape in two stages. The first garden was created in 1985, and the second was added in 1999. These dates distinguish the two garden phases and place their development in chronological order.

Oppidum and Château: two historical layers

The Domaine de Castillon is located on the site of a former oppidum, where a coin hoard was discovered. The history of the place is therefore linked not only to its buildings known by name today, but also to an earlier settlement site and a find made there.

The Château de Castillon was rebuilt in 1762 in the classical style. The date refers to its reconstruction. Together with the former oppidum, this gives two clearly distinct historical points of reference: the site of an earlier settlement and the Château’s reconstruction in the 18th century.

Moulin de Castillon: milling technology in context

The Moulin de Castillon offers an interesting example of how a rural milling complex was organized. It retains transmission mechanisms for the waterwheel, a double “rouet de volée,” a pair of millstones, a flour sifter and a flour room. Its equipment therefore comprises not just individual machines, but several parts of the milling complex: from the waterwheel mechanism to the millstones, flour sifter and flour room. If you are interested in technological history, this combination is a particularly clear contrast with the site’s garden and architectural history.

Church and protected natural site

The Église Saint-Cassien stands at the eastern entrance to Castillon on the RD 73. It has an elongated floor plan with nine bays: five in the nave and four in the choir. The church dates from the 15th century; alterations in the 19th century are possible. This identifies its 15th-century origins while making clear that later interventions are not certain.

The classified natural site Ifs du cimetière de Castillon adds another theme to the architectural and garden history. It was protected on 25 March 1936. When choosing the focus of your stay, you can therefore distinguish between landscaped garden spaces, historic buildings and a natural site with designated protected status.

Discover more destinations

Auberville, Goustranville, Cauvicourt, Saint-Georges-En-Auge, Saint-Vigor-Le-Grand, Viessoix, Ifs, Saint-Ouen-Du-Mesnil-Oger

For the broader travel overview: Calvados.