Saint-Etienne-le-Vieux Old Church, Caen

Built from the 10th century, the qualifier "le Vieux" added following the construction of the Abbey aux Hommes in the 11th century. The church was disused in 1793, and was not given back to worship until 1802. The nave was destroyed by bombing in 1944.

About this building

The building had a Latin cross plan, with a flat apse surrounded by chapels. The south wall is still standing on two bays. The lantern tower rises on two levels and is pierced with bays replacing them on the first level, then with clerestory on the second level.

Key Features

  • Famous people or stories

Visitors information

  • Bus stop within 100m

Other nearby buildings

Saint Pierre of Caen

In the 12th century, the first Romanesque church was built. In the following century, the church was extended by six bays and ended with a flat chevet. A bell tower is also added. In the 14th century, the Romanesque nave was redone in a Gothic style. The facade was rebuilt and the bell tower was raised by the addition of an arrow. Later, in the 15th century, the collateral was enlarged as were the side chapels. The whole church is redesigned in a flamboyant Gothic style. At the end of the century, the flat chevet was replaced by an apse crowned by radiant chapels. In 1944, a shell fell on the bell tower collapsing on the nave.

Saint-Gilles of Caen

The work on the church of the Abbey aux Dames began in 1062 and was completed in 1130. We start at the bedside, in the 11th century, then we add buttresses. On June 18, 1066, the dedication of the Abbey of the Trinity took place. Since 1865, the Trinity Church has served as a parish church following the transfer of the cult from the Saint-Gilles Church, which was abandoned and then destroyed during the bombardments preceding the liberation of Caen.