Abbey of Sainte-Trinité

The Abbey of Sainte-Trinité, commonly called the Abbaye-aux-Dames, is a Romanesque Benedictine abbey in Caen, Normandy, founded by Matilda of Flanders in 1062. The abbey church with its twin-towered façade is a prominent example of Norman Romanesque architecture.

The principal attractions are the abbey church, surviving conventual ranges and the church interior, where the 11th- and 12th-century fabric remains evident. The complex also contains funerary monuments and later alterations from medieval and early modern periods.

Matilda founded the nunnery in the 11th century as a religious house for women; the abbey continued as a monastic community through the Middle Ages and underwent changes during subsequent centuries.

The abbey stands in central Caen, Normandy, a short walk from the city centre and other Norman monuments.

• Founding date: Founded in 1062 by Matilda of Flanders, the abbey is commonly known as the Abbaye-aux-Dames and retains substantial Romanesque architecture.

What to See #

• Abbey church (Abbaye-aux-Dames): The abbey church is the central Romanesque building with a twin-towered west front and medieval nave fabric dating to the 11th and 12th centuries.
• Cloister and convent buildings: Cloister and convent buildings that once served the Benedictine nunnery survive in altered form and are visible around the church precinct.