Abbaye-aux-Hommes and Église St-Etienne, Caen
View of the Abbaye aux Hommes and the twin towers of its magnificent
Romanesque church. Photo by Herman Beun.
View of the abbey and church from the east. Photo by Duncan Courts.
Soaring Romanesque towers of St. Etienne. Photo
Herman Beun.
Interior of St. Etienne Church. Photo under GFDL.
Site of William the Conqueror's tomb. Photo under GFDL.
The Abbaye-aux-Hommes (Abbey for Men) was founded by William the Conquerer in the 11th century. Its abbey church, the Romanesque Église St-Etienne, is the finest in Caen.
History
The Abbaye-aux-Hommes was founded by William the Conqueror in 1066 as penance for marrying within the prohibited degrees. The Conqueror himself was buried in the church. The Early Gothic choir and towers were added in the 13th century.
William the Conqueror's tomb was destroyed by Huguenots in 1562 during the Wars of Religion - only a hipbone was recovered. The last of William's dust was scattered to the wind in the French Revolution.
Additions to the abbey were made in the 18th century and its elegant buildings are now part of City Hall. During the height of the Allied invasion, residents of Caen flocked to St-Etienne for protection.
What to See
The church is made from local Caen stone (also used for Canterbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London) and is a Norman Romanesque masterpiece, with a severe unadorned facade crowned with twin Romanesque towers. The towers, 84m (276 ft.) tall, helped earn Caen the nickname "city of spires."
Despite the destruction of the Wars of Religion and Revolution, St-Etienne's choir still stands. It was the first to be built in Norman Gothic style, and many subsequent choirs were modeled after it.
The hand-carved wooden doors and elaborate wrought-iron staircase are also exceptional. A marble slab inside the high altar marks the site of William the Conqueror's tomb.
Adjoining the church on the south are the abbey buildings, which were largely rebuilt in the 18th century. After the Revolution they were occupied by the Lycée Malherbe and now house the Town Hall. The abbey rooms are richly decorated with beautiful wrought-iron banisters, fine paneling, and the town's fine collection of paintings. There is also a large refectory. A fine view of the church towers can be had from the abbey's cloisters.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Abbaye aux Hommes; Men's Abbey; Église St-Etienne; Church of St. Etienne |
| Type of site: | Christian monastery |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Dates: | 1066 |
| Architecture: | Romanesque |
| Location: | Esplanade Jean-Marie-Louvel, Caen, France |
| Phone: | 02-31-30-42-81 |
| Website: | abbaye-aux-hommes.cef.fr |
| Hours: | Daily 8:15am-7:30pm |
| Tours: | Daily 9:30 and 11am, 2:30 and 4pm (in French) |
| Cost: | Free admission. Tours 2€ adults, 1€ students, free for children under 18. |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Abbaye aux Hommes and St. Etienne. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Caen Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- Frommer's France 2007 (October 2006).
- St-Etienne - Planetware
