Longues Abbey (Abbaye Sainte-Marie de Longues)
About Longues Abbey (Abbaye Sainte-Marie de Longues)
Founded in 1168 by Hugues Wac, a descendant of one of William the Conqueror's companions, this Benedictine abbey operated for over 600 years before being abandoned prior to the French Revolution. The complex includes a restored 13th-century choir, a hospitality wing with Normandy's largest collection of medieval glazed tiles, and two exceptional 14th-century murals depicting Saint Michael and the Annunciation. Visitors can explore buildings featuring Romanesque vaults from the late 12th century and the oldest Armorican-type timber framing discovered in Normandy. The abbey was classified as a Monument Historique in 2006 and selected as Normandy's emblematic monument for the 2019 heritage lottery. Open seasonally from June to mid-September, Tuesday through Saturday. Located near D-Day landing sites, the abbey was spared during the June 1944 operations.
Interesting Facts
In August 2022, the first mass was celebrated in the restored choir after a 240-year gap. The ceremony marked the return of religious services to the abbey since its abandonment in the late 18th century.
The glazed floor tiles in the hospitality wing come from the famous Molay workshop, dating to the late 13th or early 14th century. This collection represents the largest surviving ensemble of medieval decorative tiles in all of Normandy.
Researchers from CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research) discovered that the timber framing in the hospitality building represents the oldest known example of 'Armorican-type' construction in Normandy, a building technique characteristic of Brittany and western France.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Ticket Prices
General Admission
RecommendedLocation & Practical Info
Address
17 rue de l'Abbaye, 14400 Longues-sur-Mer, Calvados, France
Website
https://abbayedelongues.fr/Day Routes
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