St-Pierre

Much loved by the citizens of Caen, the Église St-Pierre (St. Peter's Church) is a fine example of the transition between Gothic and Renaissance forms.

St-Pierre was built on the south side of Caen Chateau in the 13th and 14th centuries, and an ornate Renaissance east end was added in the early 16th century.

The church is best known for its 75m (245ft) tower of 1308, whose soaring spire was destroyed in 1944 and subsequently restored.

The interior features an elegant Gothic nave and an elaborate Renaissance apse, with rich decoration and unusual vaulting. Directly over the altar is a life-size sculpture of St. Peter, the church's patron.

The church adjoins Place St-Pierre, which has a monument to Joan of Arc (1964).