Ladies’ Abbey

You’ve finally arrived at the Ladies’ Abbey. The abbey was established by Duchess Mathilde in the 11th century while her husband was founding the men’s abbey. Until the French Revolution, it served as a convent for Benedictine nuns. The most famous resident was Charlotte Corday, a rebellious and reckless woman with a passion for philosophers. She later made history by murdering the famous Montagnard revolutionary deputy Marat in her bathtub, marking the height of the French Terror! In the courtyard of the cloister, you can see a modern representation of Charlotte, dressed entirely in bronze. It is the work of Claude Quiesse, an artist from Caen, who also created the beautiful statue of William and Matilda on horseback, which you may have seen at the foot of the castle. During the French Revolution, nuns were expelled. The convent became successively a barrack, a begging spot, a mansion and then a hospice in 1908. Renovated in the 1980s, the buildings now house the offices of the Basse-Normandie regional council. The Romanesque masterpiece before you is the abbey’s church, dedicated to the Trinity. Mathilde of Flanders has been buried there since 1083, under a black slab, in accordance with the wishes of the couple, who were both buried in the abbey they founded. This site is open to visitors and free of charge, allowing everyone to explore the magnificent staircase of honour, the cloister and the 18th-century convent. You can also take a paid guided tour, which will take you to more secluded and and closed areas such as the 11th-century crypt, with its Romanesque columns and carved capitals. For those who prefer a more unusual experience, there are also night-time or Theatrical tours, as well as escape games. Don’t forget to enquire at the tourist office if you’re interested. Anyway, feel free to go for a walk in the park if you feel like it. You’ll find a magnificent cedar of Lebanon planted in 1849 on a knoll in the garden.  With its landscaped platform and benches where you can rest in the shade of its hundred-year-old branches, it offers a breathtaking view of the abbey, as well as the town and its bell towers. It’s the perfect place to relax and admire the scenery.