Medieval sites in Seine-Maritime

No shortage of medieval monuments here, from the spectacular ruins of Jumièges Abbey, “the most beautiful ruin in France”, to the cathedral city of Rouen and its associations with Joan of Arc and her trial and burning there, full frontal drama awaits you in Seine-Maritime.  

JUMIÈGES ABBEY

Founded in the year 654 by Saint Philibert, it was duly ravaged by Vikings and the church we see today was consecrated by William the Conqueror in the year of his own ravaging in England, 1067. The fate of so many abbeys after the Revolution of 1789 was to become a quarry, a sad source of dressed stone. This was stopped in time to leave a legacy of impressive size, most particularly in those massive cliff-like towers. The Abbot’s lodging houses a collection of carved stones and sculpture, and photographic exhibitions with its own 3D Apps.      

Abbaye de Jumièges
Rue Guillaume le Conquérant
76480 Jumièges

HISTORIAL OF JOAN OF ARC – ROUEN

Set in the former Episcopal Palace where Joan of Arc was tried, the Historial evokes the story of Joan of Arc whose fate was intimately bound up with the city of Rouen. There were three trials here and the multimedia trail with its unusual scenography gives you an idea of the influence of her life and the myths that grew up around her, notably in the twentieth century. Close by rises the mass of Rouen cathedral, much of which is XIIth and XIIIth century. The 151-metre-high spire is the tallest in France.  

Historial Jeanne d’Arc
7 rue Saint-Romain
76000 Rouen

CHÂTEAU – DIEPPE MUSEUM

The château was built after 1435 on the foundations of the XIIth century keep and formed part of the fortifications of the town. It houses the museum today whose reputation rests on its collection of carved ivories, and on prints by Georges Braque. Clinging to a cliff, it has a wonderful view of the seafront and the town.   

Château – Musée de Dieppe
Rue de Chastes
76200 Dieppe

THE ABBEY OF THE HOLY TRINITY IN FÉCAMP

The castle on the coast at Fécamp was the birthplace and residence of two Dukes. William the Conqueror assured the Benedictine Abbey there its freedoms and granted it privileges retained until the XVth century. The Gothic church is as long as Notre Dame in Paris and its sheer volume takes one aback. The early XIIIth century gothique rayonnant style is crowned by the wonderful lantern tower and even in the XIXth century the church attracted pilgrims to the reliquary of the Holy Blood.  

Abbatiale de la Sainte-Trinité
Place des ducs Richard
76400 Fécamp

GRAVILLE ABBEY

With its fine views over the Seine estuary Graville Abbey is a Romanesque church with a Gothic choir. Its conventual outbuildings date from the XIIth – XVIIIth centuries. The cemetery contains the graves of a number of leading figures from Le Havre, including friends of Victor Hugo. The Museum of Sacred Art has a collection of over 150 models illustrating human settlement, and outside there are fine gardens and terraces. The Virgin and Child known as the “black virgin” is much revered…  

Abbaye de Graville
53 rue de l’Abbaye
76600 Le Havre