Ancienne abbaye de Cerisy-la-Forêt
AbbeyHidden Treasure
Ancienne abbaye de Cerisy-la-Forêt, located in Cerisy-la-Forêt (Manche), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Abbey
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Cerisy-la-Forêt, Manche, Normandie
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 49.1972, -0.9324
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00110359
The Romanesque jewel of Normandy, the Benedictine abbey of Cerisy-la-Forêt stands with its thousand-year-old towers in the heart of a royal forest. Its three-tiered choir, of rare architectural purity, is one of the finest in France.
History
Nestling in the wooded forest of Cerisy, in the heart of the Cotentin region, Cerisy-la-Forêt Abbey is one of the least-known and most striking treasures of Norman Romanesque architecture. Founded in the 11th century at the instigation of the duke, it immediately established itself as a monument of extraordinary architectural ambition, easily rivalling the great abbeys of Caen and Mont-Saint-Michel. Paradoxically, its relative geographical isolation meant that it remained remarkably intact: far from the massive destruction that ravaged its chief towns, Cerisy has preserved most of its Romanesque structure. What makes the abbey truly unique is the coherence and elevation of its abbey church. The three-level choir - large arcade, tribune, clerestory - is a perfect example of Norman Romanesque composition in all its fullness: perfect rhythm, almost musical proportion of volumes, light worked with rare intelligence. There are few places in France where you can so clearly perceive the building genius of the 11th century. The 13th-century Gothic monastery buildings, later in date but just as carefully crafted, offer a fascinating dialogue between two ages of stone. The side chapels, the remains of the cloister galleries and the abbey's outbuildings form a monastic plan that can still be read in its entirety, something that few medieval abbeys are able to do today. The setting adds to the emotion: the national forest that surrounds the site creates an atmosphere of contemplation and timelessness that large tourist abbeys have often lost. Photographers and history buffs find it a favourite location, particularly in the low-angled light at the end of the day, when the blond limestone takes on soft golden hues.
Architecture
Cerisy-la-Forêt Abbey is a masterpiece of Norman Romanesque architecture, of which the abbey church is the crowning glory. The original plan followed the great Benedictine tradition: a nave with aisles preceding a projecting transept and a deep choir with an ambulatory. Although the nave was partially levelled in the 15th century, reducing the building to seven bays in length, the chancel and transept remain in an exceptional state of preservation. The most admirable feature is undoubtedly the interior elevation of the choir, with three superimposed levels: powerful semi-circular arches resting on composite piers, surmounted by a gallery opening onto the main nave, and then by a clerestory pierced by semi-circular openings. This tripartite layout, typical of the great buildings of ducal Normandy, creates a vertical rhythm of great majesty. The capitals, carved with stylised geometric and plant motifs, bear witness to a high quality local sculptural school. The 13th-century Gothic monastery buildings, adjoining the southern flank of the church, display the elegance of the emerging Ogival art: lancet windows, ribbed vaults, columns with slender shafts. The chapter house, with vaults supported by central columns, is particularly remarkable. The entire building is made of light-coloured local limestone, the dominant material in Norman architecture, which gives the abbey its luminous serenity.
Related Figures
Robert le Magnifique, duc de Normandie — refondateur de l'abbaye vers 1030Guillaume le Conquérant — fils de Robert, protecteur et bienfaiteur de l'établissementDudon de Saint-Quentin — chroniqueur normand lié à la cour ducale au temps de la refondationProsper Mérimée — inspecteur des Monuments historiques ayant contribué au classement de 1840Arcisse de Caumont — archéologue normand qui décrit et documente l'abbaye au XIXe siècle
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ancienne abbaye de Cerisy-la-Forêt located?
Ancienne abbaye de Cerisy-la-Forêt is located in Cerisy-la-Forêt, Manche department, Normandie region, France.
When was Ancienne abbaye de Cerisy-la-Forêt built?
Ancienne abbaye de Cerisy-la-Forêt dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Ancienne abbaye de Cerisy-la-Forêt open to visitors?
Ancienne abbaye de Cerisy-la-Forêt is currently closed to visitors.
