Saint Gilles church

As you pass by, you will see the remains of the former Saint-Gilles church, which was completely destroyed in the 1944 bombing raids. The church was first mentioned in the town registers in the 10th century, however excavations carried out in the 80s and 90s uncovered graves dating back to the 8th century. You’d be amazed by what can be found when you start digging! In the 11th century, William, Duke of Normandy, assigned Saint-Gilles church to the burial of the most destitute, when the Ladies’ Abbey was founded nearby. The site also housed a bell foundry from the 13th to 18th centuries. In 1862, the church was listed as a historic monument, but this did not prevent the destruction of its 15th-century choir the following year, and the loss of its parish church status in 1864 to the former Trinity Abbey Church. The church was subsequently destroyed during World War II. When the armistice came, with war reparations in hand, it was decided to build St Paul’s Church to the north of the town. The remains were then preserved and secured in memory of the former Saint-Gilles church, and the site was transformed into a small public garden.