This is the final post in my advent calendar. Thank you to everyone who has read them along the way, commented, shared and most importantly enjoyed them. Have a great Christmas and holiday season
Ellen
The Abbaye-aux-Hommes was founded by William the Conqueror. It was a Benedictine abbey and dedicated to Saint Steven. The church of Saint-Etienne was consecrated in 1077. The majority dates to the 11th century but the choir was redesigned in the 13th century to reflect the then contemporary gothic style. The majority of the church is built in the romanesque style. The monastic buildings were erected in the 11th century but they were destroyed in the first war of religion (1562-63) the first of the wars fought between the Roman Catholics and the Huguenots. They were rebuilt in the 18th century.
The church is also the burial place of William the Conqueror. His marble tomb can be seen in the photo above.
William married Matilda of Flanders in 1053 despite the fact that the Pope had banned the marriage due to consanguinity, they were distant cousins. They fought the Papal ban for nearly a decade and when it was finally lifted both of them built abbeys in Caen as a sign of gratitude. Matilda’s abbey was the Abbaye-aux-Dames which was the subject of yesterday’s post. Matilda is also buried in the abbey she founded.
The French Revolution forced the closure of the monastery and the monks were removed. In 1802 the abbey church becme the parish church and in 1804 the monastic buildings became a boy’s school.
In WWII in 1944 the high school provided refuge for the residents of Caen during bombing and survived intact. The monastic buildings are now home to the local council.
References:
Site visit 2015
Abbaye-aux-Hommes information booklet.
http://www.caen-tourisme.fr/en/discover-caen/william-the-conqueror/abbaye-aux-hommes
The photos are all mine.
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ! Well done for such an interesting Advent Calendar !
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Thanks, and glad you’ve enjoyed it
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Thank you so much for the Advent Calendar of Religious Institutions! I enjoyed it immensely and learned so much history. I appreciate all the effort!
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Really glad you’ve enjoyed it, I had a great time putting it together. It’s amazing how many follow similar narratives.
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Ellen, I have greatly enjoyed your advent calender entries. What a great idea it was. Wishing you and yours a wonderful and joyous Christmas.
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Thanks, very glad you’ve enjoyed them. Happy christmas to you too.
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Thanks again, for sharing your photos and your words.
Can’t wait for your next inspiration (no pressure).
Best wishes.
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Glad you liked the advent calendar. I’ll be writing more new material in January
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Thank you for the most amazing series, Ellen, a wonderful idea for an ADVENT calendar and a mammoth effort, very much appreciated.
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I have included one or some of your blogs in INTERESTING BLOGS in FRIDAY FOSSICKING at
https://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com/2018/01/friday-fossicking-5th-january-2018.html
Thank you, Chris
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Thanks Chris
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You’re very welcome. I think my favourite was Glendalough.. Dec 13th, though loved seeing so many ‘new’ to me places.
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Glendalough is such an incredible place, it is quite hard to photograph in a way that shows the whole scope of it sadly, but I’m really glad you liked the post. If you ever get a chance to go there it is worth it!
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I liked them all, but there is something anout Glendalough that always draws me to it.
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