A jewel of Norman heritage located near the D-Day landing beaches, the 12th-century Abbaye de Longues stands as an exceptional testimony to religious life, architecture and decorative arts in Normandy during the Middle Ages.
Site History
A few kilometers from Bayeux, near the D-Day landing beaches, stands the 12th-century Abbaye de Longues, an exceptional testimony to religious life, architecture and decorative arts in Normandy in the Middle Ages. Founded in 1168, this striking former Benedictine abbey features a complex of buildings, including the church, chapter house and monks’ refectory, as well as a garden. It is also home to a beautiful collection of glazed tiles from the 13th century that are among the finest in Normandy.
In 1257, the abbey’s community had 22 monks; by 1760, it had been reduced to just five members. The abbey was sold during the Revolution. The remaining buildings were saved from ruin by U.S. Senator Charles Dewey, who bought the estate in 1932 and began the first urgent restoration work. Spared during the D-Day landings, the abbey is now being restored by its current owners. It has received several FHS restoration grants.
About the Project
The chapter house is in need of major restoration work, including the consolidation and repair of stone façades and walls. Ivy and vegetation have caused serious damage to the structure over the years, leading to water infiltration, and some major stones are splitting and breaking, necessitating their replacement.
Abbaye de Longues Today
Georges and Marie-Jeanne d’Anglejan were charmed by this windswept abbey overlooking the sea. Since 1964, they have devoted themselves to its preservation and restoration. It is a project of a lifetime that has brought together three generations of the family. Classified as a historic monument, the abbey is open to visitors and for weddings, receptions and other activities.
