Lessay Abbey is one of the most beautiful jewels of Romanesque art in Cotentin. Renowned for the beauty, purity and elegance of its lines, the abbey church is one of the first churches to have ribbed vaults. If you want to discover Lessay Abbey, the church is accessible all year round. The private convent buildings can only be visited during guided tours organized by the tourist office.
Lessay Abbey: a jewel
of Romanesque architecture
Built from the 11th century, this former abbey church is recognized worldwide for being one of the first Romanesque churches with ribbed vaults.
Witness to the influence of the Benedictine order, the abbey has survived through the centuries despite the upheavals of history: Hundred Years' War, Wars of Religion, Second World War... Almost entirely destroyed in 1944, it will be rebuilt at the identical after 13 years of work under the aegis of Yves-Marie Froideveaux.
The church was listed as a Historic Monument in 1840 by Prosper Mérimée while the convent buildings were listed in 1946.
It is a Romanesque church from the 11th and 12th centuries, almost free of any alterations and with a nobility and grandeur that I did not expect to find in Normandy.
The anecdote 😉
During the reconstruction in the 1950s, the frame of the church was completely redone in reinforced concrete. A good way to protect yourself from fires!
How to visit Lessay Abbey?
The abbey church is accessible to all. It is open every day from 9 a.m. to 19 p.m. A permanent exhibition retracing the entire history of Lessay Abbey is installed in the church.
The former monks' living buildings have been a private residence since the Revolution. It is possible to access it during guided tours organized by the tourist office. These visits allow you to discover the 18th century cloister and the gardens.
Not to be missed during your visit
- Raise your head and admire one of the oldest ribbed vaults
- Admire the stained glass windows. Their simple patterns allow dimly colored lighting highlighting the architecture of the place
- Observe the baptistery and its floor covered with pebbles
For more than 30 years, the abbey has hosted a classical music festival which takes place every summer: the Festival des Heures Musicales de l'Abbaye de Lessay.
