En un regard
Le château en bref
In Blainville-sur-Mer, on the west coast of the Cotentin peninsula north of Coutances, Gonneville Manor is best known for its so-called Chapel of the Sailors. The chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and to Saint Philibert, patron saint of sailors, is said to have existed since 1050; it was rebuilt in the 14th century. Masses were celebrated there at the departure and return of the terre-neuvas, the fishermen who set out each year for the Newfoundland Banks, and it preserves maritime ex-votos, including an 18th-century painting and two model ships from the late 19th century. The manor, dating from the 15th century, consists of an L-shaped main building with a polygonal stair turret set into the angle. After the Second World War, Herman Menke and Geneviève de Saint-Pern restored it. The façades and roofs of the chapel have been listed as historic monuments since 5 April 2005. This manor should not be confused with its namesake in Saint-Jacques-de-Néhou. The estate, owned by a private company, has become a farm.