St-Etienne-le-Vieux, Caen
Ruins of Old St-Etienne in Caen. Photo
Sergio Alcántara.
View of St-Etienne-le-Vieux from southwest. Photo
ἀλέξ.
Gothic crossing tower at sunset. Photo
doolittle1989.
View from south. Photo
John Griffiths.
Location map and aerial view of St-Etienne-le-Vieux. For a larger interactive view, see our Caen Map.
Located next to the Abbaye aux Hommes in Caen are the handsome ruins of St-Etienne-le-Vieux (Old St. Stephen's), a large medieval church destroyed in World War II.
History
The existence of St-Etienne-le-Vieux is first recorded in 1066, but it was probably built earlier. It was then that it began to be called "Old" St. Stephen's, because the new church at the adjacent Abbaye aux Hommes was also dedicated to St. Stephen.
The original Romanesque church was destroyed during the English sieges of 1346 and 1417 (the Hundred Years War) and subsequently rebuilt in a Gothic style. During the French Revolution it was used as a stable.
The old church was saved from demolition by Arcisse de Caumont in 1847, but was partly destroyed in a bombing of 1944.
What to See
Old St. Stephen's Church has been left in ruins, which make for a handsome and intriguing sight near the Abbaye aux Hommes. The nave and south aisle are completely gone, but the north aisle, transept and crossing tower still stand.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | St-Etienne-le-Vieux |
| Dedicated to: | St. Stephen |
| Location: | Caen, Normandy, France |
| Category: | Churches |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Status: | ruins |
| Date: | 13th-14th centuries |
| Architecture: | Gothic |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 49.181149° N, 0.369281° W (view on Google Maps) |
Travel Resources
- Caen Map - our detailed interactive map of Caen, plus hand-picked links to more
- Caen Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Caen Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Caen Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Caen tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Caen, church of Saint-Etienne-le-Vieux - Collections of the Musée de Normandie
Article last updated: 08/21/2009.
