| Jumièges Abbey
“The most beautiful ruins in
France”, according to Victor Hugo, Jumièges Abbey was once one of the largest Benedictine monasteries in the West, with a reputation to match.
Founded on royal land in 654 by Saint Philibert, the abbey had a tumultuous history, with alternating periods of destruction and reconstruction. After the French Revolution, much of the monastery was demolished and its stone sold off, until it eventually passed into the hands of more conservation-minded owners who put a halt to the desecration. It was purchased by the French Government in 1946.
This historic monument is notable for its striking proportions and remarkable architectural features. Its twin towers, some forty-six metres high, still overshadow the meanders of the nearby
Seine.
Today, Jumièges Abbey is one of the most popular tourist attractions in
Normandy.
|
