The Manoir du Vert Galant & René Morin
A story of family, encounters and legacy.
A beautiful Norman residence in the heart of Touques
In the heart of Touques, just minutes from the boardwalks of Deauville and Trouville, the Manoir du Vert Galant — formerly villa Les Mésanges — is a beautiful half-timbered Norman residence surrounded by a large garden.
Designed by the architect René Morin, this manor bears the signature of a creator who left a lasting mark on the local architectural landscape in the first half of the 20th century.
René Morin, a life's portrait
Born at the end of the 19th century, René Morin trained as an architect during the Belle Époque and worked for more than fifty years on the Côte Fleurie. His granddaughter Annie Morin has kept his family archives — portraits, sketches, letters and photographs — from which these documents come.
Signature of an era
His work can be found in several major buildings of the region, blending Norman tradition with the sensibility of his time.
The Palais Normand & Hôtel Flaubert, 1936
Two adjoining buildings by René Morin that still dominate the Trouville seafront: the Palais Normand and the Hôtel Flaubert (still standing today). From the first models to the completed façades, follow their birth through the family archives.
The Touques school complex
A public commission that Morin oversaw personally, just a few streets from the manor.
The artist behind the architect
Before drawing buildings, René Morin drew everything — landscapes, faces, houses. His family archives reveal a sensitive artist behind the builder.
A holiday story on the Côte Fleurie
Built during the Belle Époque, the manor was then known as villa Les Mésanges. It regularly welcomed Parisian families who came to spend the summer near Deauville. Its spacious rooms were rented out to enjoy the races, the stud farms and the closeness of the sea.
Among the tenants of the time was a picturesque figure: Mlle Tarlier, a fashionable young woman who received her admirers here. In 1903, the property passed into the hands of the family of Dr Sellier, who kept it for more than a century.
The Chalet Mozin, the family home
The chalet takes its name from the Parisian painter Charles Mozin, who had it built. His works can still be seen today at the Villa Montebello in Trouville.
It was later bought by Augustin Hébert, a visionary known for having grasped the immense future of electricity as early as his visit to the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889.
Augustin Hébert is the great-grandfather of Françoise, Catherine and Annie Morin.
His daughter Suzanne Hébert married René Morin, and they lived for many years at the Chalet Mozin. After René's death, Suzanne remained at the chalet and ended her days there.
Their only son, Rémy Morin — father of Françoise, Catherine and Annie — also lived at the chalet until his death. Bequeathed to the three sisters, the chalet has since been sold, and its memory now lives on through the family archives.
An unexpected and moving encounter
The full story of this manor and of its link with René Morin reached us in an unexpected way.
The architect's granddaughter, Annie Morin, after long research, discovered that the former villa Les Mésanges had changed names over time. She came knocking at our door. The moment was filled with emotion. By a hair's breadth, this encounter would never have happened: I was about to leave to catch a train.
Thanks to her, to her family memories and to the precious documents you can see on this page, we were able to piece together this story and better understand the past of this residence. This visit gave a deeply human dimension to our attachment to the place.
The original spirit, today's comfort
Fully renovated in keeping with its original spirit, the Manoir du Vert Galant now offers five independent accommodations — Ceriseraie, Yearling, Mustang, Pommeraie and Derby. Each preserves the charm of a great Norman house while offering modern comfort.
By staying here, you become the heirs of a beautiful story of family, holidays and encounters that continues to be written.
