Churches in Normandy

Historic Churches and Abbeys of France

Normandy’s religious landscape spans centuries, from the Romanesque ruins of Jumièges to the flamboyant Gothic details of Évreux Cathedral. This collection highlights the region's architectural evolution, featuring William the Conqueror’s twin abbeys in Caen and the iconic island parish of Mont-Saint-Michel. The list also includes sites with significant 20th-century history, such as the paratrooper-linked church at Sainte-Mère-Église and the Neo-Byzantine Basilica of St. Thérèse in Lisieux.

Historic Churches and Abbeys of France — Map

chisloup / CC BY 3.0

A

Église Saint-Pierre

A 15th and 16th-century parish church located on the main street of Mont-Saint-Michel. It features a silver-plated statue of Saint Michael and serves as a place of worship for the island's residents and pilgrims.

B

Men’s Abbey

The Abbey of Saint-Étienne, also known as Abbaye aux Hommes by contrast with the Abbaye aux Dames, is a former Benedictine monastery in the…

Marianne Casamance / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Bayeux Cathedral

Bayeux Cathedral, also known as Cathedral of Our Lady of Bayeux, is a Roman Catholic church located in the town of Bayeux in Normandy,…

Pradigue / CC-BY-SA-3.0

D

Women's Abbey

The Abbey of Sainte-Trinité, better known as the Abbaye aux Dames, is a former nunnery in Caen, Normandy, now home to the Regional Council…

Elke Wetzig / CC BY-SA 4.0

E

Abbaye de Jumièges

The ruins of a powerful 11th-century Benedictine monastery. Once a major center of learning, its twin towers remain a landmark of Norman Romanesque architecture in the Seine valley.

Marc Dan / CC BY-SA 2.0

F

Basilica of St. Thérèse Lisieux

The Basilica of Sainte-Thérèse of Lisieux is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica dedicated to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

EdouardHue / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Chapelle Saint-Aubert

A 15th-century chapel built on a rocky outcrop on the northwest side of Mont-Saint-Michel. It is dedicated to the 8th-century bishop of Avranches who founded the original sanctuary on the mount.

Hans Muilwijk / CC-BY-SA

H

Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption

A 12th-century church famous for its role in the D-Day landings. A mannequin of paratrooper John Steele hangs from the steeple to commemorate his snagged parachute during the 1944 airborne invasion.

I

Église Sainte-Honorine

A Roman Catholic church in Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes dating back to the 12th century. It is located near the historic Omaha Beach sector of the Normandy coastline.

Mattana / CC BY 2.0

J

Church of Saint-Pierre, Caen

The Church of Saint-Pierre is a Roman Catholic church located on the Place Saint-Pierre in the centre of Caen in Normandy, northern France.

Hervewiki / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

Prieuré d'Ardevon

A 14th-century Benedictine priory that originally served as a granary and administrative outpost for the Mont-Saint-Michel abbey. It now functions as a spiritual center for pilgrims.

Giogo / CC BY-SA 3.0

L

Lisieux Cathedral

Lisieux Cathedral is a Catholic church located in Lisieux, France. The cathedral was the seat of the Bishop of Lisieux until the diocese of…

Kevin Aoustin / CC-BY-SA

M

Church of Saint-Jean, Caen

The church of Saint-Jean de Caen is the parish church of the Saint-Jean district in Caen, France.

Parsifall / CC BY-SA 4.0

N

Cathédrale Notre-Dame

A cathedral featuring a blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles, noted for its extensive collection of 14th to 16th-century stained glass and its flamboyant Gothic choir.

Sedme / CC BY-SA 3.0

O

Basilique Notre-Dame

A late 19th-century Neo-Gothic basilica and pilgrimage site. It is known for its impressive scale and as a center for the Work of Expiation for the souls of the deceased.

Ptyx / CC BY-SA 4.0

P

Basilique Saint-Gervais et Saint-Protais

A 19th-century basilica that houses the treasury of Avranches, including the reliquary containing the skull of Saint Aubert, the founder of Mont-Saint-Michel.

Q

Église Saint-Côme-et-Saint-Damien d'Angoville-au-Plain

A small church that served as an emergency aid station during the 1944 paratrooper drops. Bloodstains from treated soldiers are still visible on the historic wooden pews.

Roi.dagobert / CC BY-SA 3.0

R

Église Saint-Martin

A parish church in the Calvados department featuring traditional Norman stone architecture, with elements dating from the 12th to the 15th century.

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