Abbey of Saint-Étienne, Caen

The former Benedictine monastery of Saint- Étienne is common with the neighboring convent of Sainte -Trinité in Caen as Vollendungsbau Romanesque in Normandy. At the same time built from 1060, the masons of the two churches stood for decades in productive competition. Of significance is especially the built- in two churches from 1120/25 ribbed vaults, which are among the oldest in France. The two abbeys apply as the forerunner of the Gothic.

The two monasteries were founded by William the Conqueror and his wife Matilda of Flanders as penance for their contested by the pope marriage. William was eventually buried in the Abbey of St - Etienne. His original grave stone of black marble, which had been designed by a German artist, was destroyed by the Calvinists 1562-1563. They had thrown away the bones, but a monk rescued in time a leg bone. As a consequence of the neglect of the monastery at the time of the religious wars of the lantern tower collapsed with the top down on the choir and was not rebuilt. Then came the French Revolution and the last monks were expelled. The monastery served first as a high school and is now the Hôtel de Ville (town hall ) of the city of Caen. The abbey church was converted into a simple parish church.

Architectural History

• To 1060/65: Start of construction
• 1077 Inauguration of the monastery of William the Conqueror and the six bishops of Normandy. Wilhelm was Lanfranc of Pavia appoint as first abbot.
• From 1120/25: After change of plan curvature of the nave with ribbed vaults.
• 13th century: Replace the original relay choir by a Gothic ambulatory.

Specifications

• Cross-shaped floor plan with clearly protruding transept.
• Tripartite wall elevation: arcades, galleries, double-skinned clerestory. Nave with six-part vaults.
• Gothic ambulatory with radiating chapels.
• Two towers, " Norman harmonious facade", which opens the way to Gothic.
• Eastern parts with lantern tower and four choir flank towers.