There are several different ways to explore Mont Saint Michel abbey. You can take a guide tour or discover the abbey by yourself. If you’d prefer to go at your own pace then you can rent an audio guide that will guide you through the abbey. There’s also a leaflet you can pick up that…
A visit to Mont Saint Michel should definitely be on your Normandy bucket list. It’s a rocky island commune topped with a 13th century Gothic abbey. Discover 13 centuries of history and restoration at this UNESCO World Heritage site. The iconic abbey is perched on top of an island and it literally takes your breath…
Lucerne Abbey is a 12th century Normandy abbey. The photo below is taken from the gatehouse. The abbey is a Premonstratensian monastery that was founded in 1143. The village of La Lucerne-d’Outremer sits in the triangle between the towns of Granville, Avranches and Villedieu-les-Poêles. The building in the photo is the magnificent abbey church. Over the…
You can learn about William the Conqueror and his abbey church by heading to Caen in Normandy. The abbey church of Saint-Étienne is part of the Abbaye aux Hommes (the Men’s Abbey). The abbey is a former Benedictine monastery and is dedicated to Saint Stephen. It was founded in 1063 by William the Conqueror and…
Lessay Abbey is an 11th century Benedictine monastery in Normandy. It was built in the Romanesque style and features an early example of the rib vault. The abbey church was founded in 1056. It suffered enormous damage in 1356 during the Hundred Years War. The damage was repaired and it survived until 1944. It wasn’t…
Introduction In the quiet village of Longues sur Mer is a beautiful Benedictine abbey dating from the 12th century. The Abbaye de Longues or Abbaye Saint-Marie is nestled on the road leading to Bayeux. Although it’s not far from the Omaha and Gold D-Day landing beaches it wasn’t bombed during the Battle of Normandy. It…
These are just some of the abbeys and castles in Normandy I’ve visited. They’re all located in La Manche region of Normandy. I’ve chosen five abbeys and five châteaux and they’re all equally impressive. Abbeys Mont St Michel This is on most of my guests’ to-do lists while they are here. This iconic abbey is…
A young priest from Normandy succeeded in restoring a magnificent abbey that had been destroyed on three previous occasions. Lucerne Abbey was founded in the mid 12th century. It was destroyed during the Hundred Years’ War and also during the Religious Wars. During the French Revolution a wealthy local ship owner bought the abbey and…
Français 
English (UK)