St-Etienne-Le-Vieux

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.

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.

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.