An architectural masterpiece of medieval art and 18th Century
Abbey Church of Saint-Étienne
Monastic buildings
Consecrated in 1077, the abbey church represents the
oldest part of the site, with most of the features dating
back to the 11th and 13th Centuries. The choir was
redesigned in the 13th Century to reflect the prevailing
Gothic style and is home to the tomb of William the
Conqueror, Duke of Normandy and King of England.
The monastery was erected in the 11th Century, but
destroyed during the First War of Religion (1562-63),
before being rebuilt in the 18th Century. The monastic
buildings are built around a Tuscan-style cloister
epitomising the classical Italian style. The buildings
are today headquarters of Caen City Hall.
Together with the recently refurbished Place SaintSauveur, the Abbaye-aux-Hommes represents a
unique heritage site.
Caen has received the national « City of Art
and History » title, in recognition of the city’s
rich heritage.
Medieval buildings and agricultural
buildings
The abbey also used to be a farm and an inn. It still
houses a cider press, a carriage house and a bakery.
Two 14th Century buildings bear witness to the abbey’s
former role as a place of refuge and a political venue.
-Palais Ducal, which was restored between 2012 and
2013, now hosts the city’s art library and its collection
of contemporary art.
-The Guardroom, where City Council meetings take
place
2016, Year of William the Conqueror 950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings
*in French only
21st April
21st July
19 May
18th August
16 June
15th September
th
th
Rendez-vous 15 min. before the tour at the reception of Caen City Hall. Limited numbers (40 pax).
Reservation required: +33 (0) 2 31 30 42 81.
Prices: for the individual guided tour rates, see
over.
Rendez-vous 15 min. before the tour at the reception of Caen City Hall. Limited numbers (40 pax).
Reservation required: +33 (0) 2 31 30 42 81.
Prices: for the individual guided tour rates, see
over.
Rendez-vous in the former Refectory of the
Men’s Abbey. Free entry. Reservation required:
+33 (0) 2 31 30 42 81.
Born in Falaise in 1027, William was the son of Robert
Work began on the Abbaye-aux-Hommes in 1066,
the Magnificent, the future Duke of Normandy, and
the year that marked the Norman conquest of
Herleva, a tanner’s daughter. Upon his father’s death,
England.
William became the designated sole heir to the ducal
Edward, the King of England, had named William,
throne. His succession to the throne was challenged
by the barons, who considered William to be Robert’s
illegitimate son. William quashed the rebels once and
for all in 1047 and became the undisputed Duke of
Normandy.
the Duke of Normandy, to be his successor. Upon
Edward’s death and betrayed by Harold, Edward’s
brother-in-law, William took up arms to assert his
claim to the throne. William defeated Harold at the
Battle of Hastings on 14th October 1066. William was
Towards 1050, William married his distant cousin Matilda
crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey on
of Flanders, despite opposition from Pope Leo IX.
25th December 1066, whereupon he became William
The Church forbade their marriage, so Matilda and
«the Conqueror». On 9th September 1087, he died in
William sought atonement by founding the Abbaye-
Rouen. According to his wishes, he was buried in the
aux-Dames, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and the
Abbey Church of Saint-Étienne in Caen.
Abbaye-aux-Hommes, dedicated to Saint-Étienne.
2016
2017
B
(90 min) / full-tarif
C
(50 min) / Half-price
9:30am > 1pm
2pm > 6pm
9am > 1pm
2pm > 5:30pm
9:30am > 6:30pm
T
S
W
W
Feb.
Mar.
Nov.
Jan.
T
Oct.
Dec.
T
S*
Sept.
T
T
M
F
W
S
F
T
S
F
M
Jul.
T
Aug.
M
S
W
May
Jun.
2
S
1
F
Apr.
3
F
F
T
S*
T
M
S
W
S
F
T
S
4
S*
S*
W
S
F
T
S
T
M
S
W
M
5
S
S
T
M
S*
W
M
F
T
S
T
T
6
M
M
F
T
S
T
T
S
W
M
F
W
7
T
T
S
W
M
F
W
S
T
T
S
T
8
W
W
S
T
T
S*
T
M
F
W
S
F
9
T
T
M
F
W
S
F
T
S
T
M
S
F
F
T
S*
T
M
S
W
S
F
T
S
10
S*
S*
W
S
F
T
S
T
M
S
W
M
11
S
S
T
M
S*
W
M
F
T
S
T
T
12
M
M
F
T
S
T
T
S
W
M
F
W
13
T
T
S
W
M
F
W
S
T
T
S
T
14
S* : Self-guided
tour only
Closed
Ticket sales end 30 mins before the building closes.
24th and 31st December, closure at 4.00pm.
8am > 5pm
8am > 6pm
8am > 6:30pm
• All year round:
Self-guided tour of cloister, calefactory, scriptorium and
grand staircase in monastic buildings.
Tours are likely to vary depending on the availability of
the venue.
Three 18th Century monastery rooms and the cloister
• Circuit
18th Century monastery rooms, cloister, cider press and
14th Century guardroom
• Circuit
18th Century monastery rooms, cloister and abbey
church
W
W
S
T
T
S*
T
M
F
W
S
F
15
T
T
M
F
W
S
F
T
S
T
M
S
16
F
F
T
S*
T
M
S
W
S
F
T
S
17
S*
S*
W
S
F
T
S
T
M
S
W
M
18
S
S
T
M
S*
W
M
F
T
S
T
T
19
A
M
M
F
T
S
T
T
S
W
M
F
W
20
B
T
T
S
W
M
F
W
S
T
T
S
T
21
C
W
W
S
T
T
S*
T
M
F
W
S
F
22
T
T
M
F
W
S
F
T
S
T
M
S
23
C
A
F
F
T
S*
T
M
S
W
S
F
T
S
24
B
S*
S*
W
S
F
T
S
T
M
S
W
M
25
S
S
T
M
S*
W
M
F
T
S
T
T
26
A
M
M
F
T
S
T
T
S
W
M
F
W
27
B
C
B
A
T
T
S
W
M
F
W
S
T
T
S
T
28
W
S
T
T
S*
T
M
F
W
S
F
29
A
B
T
M
F
W
S
F
T
S
T
M
S
30
C
A
F
T
S*
M
W
S
T
31
A
A
accessible to wheelchair users
Scriptorium
Grand
staircase
Cider press
Refectory
Calefactory
Hearing impairment
> Portable induction loops
available
Parlour
Cloister
Entrance
Visual impairment
> Individuals: you are advised to
telephone ahead of your visit
> Documents are available with pictures
and symbols
Intellectual disability
Enquiries:
Caen City Council
Reception / guided tours
Esplanade Jean-Marie-Louvel
14027 CAEN cedex 9 - FRANCE
Tél. : +33 (0) 2 31 30 42 81
[email protected]
William's tomb
Rue Guillaume-le-Conquérant
Entrance
Monseigneur
des Hameaux
Square
Abbey church
of Saint-Étienne
> Adapted commentary
> Visitors may touch the exhibits
> Raised features
Esplanade Jean-Marie-Louvel
RECEPTION
Visit meeting point
Shop
A and C : 100% wheelchair access
> Circuit B : cider press and guardroom not
> Circuits
Mobility impairment
Self-guided tour only
Guided tours
Guardroom
Chapter
room
(90 min) / full-tarif
Sacristy
A
Matines
staircase
• Circuit
Impasse Duc-Rollon
Palais ducal (Artothèque)
City of Caen / Photos © Ville de Caen - F. Decaëns, DR and X / Print: Le Reverend / Picture: Descente de Guillaume en Angleterre , N-B Lépicié / 2016