L’ABBAYE SAINT-VIGOR DE CERISY-LA FORÊT

I’ve not posted anything new in a while because I’ve been suffering from a cold.  However, yesterday I felt quite convalesced and decided to take a short trip to Bayeux.  On the way, I stopped in Cerisy-la-Forêt and some other places which you will see in future blog posts.  The day was simply beautiful with temperatures soaring to 18 degrees – certainly fine weather for Spring.

The abbey at Cerisy is a remarkable example of Norman Romanesque architecture.  The earliest mention of this abbey dates back to the 6th century when Christianity was beginning to spread throughout Gaul.  Around 510 Vigor, a missionary from Bessin had a monastery built at Cerisy and dedicated it to St-Peter and St-Paul.  In 1032 Robert I of Normandy, the father of William the Conqueror, founded a new monastery which he dedicated to Vigor, former bishop of Bayeux.

The nave, now reduced to only three bays of the original seven, is remarkable for its height.  The great arches are topped by a gallery; semicircular arches frame the clerestory windows. 

Outside near the entrance are parts of the 13th century nave giving some idea of its original length.  Walk around the church via the path around the small lake to the east and admire the chevet with its tiered effect formed by the apse, the choir and the belfry.

The 13th century outbuildings were bought by the nation during the French Revolution.  They were then quarried for other building purposes or to pave streets.  What’s left is now an archeological museum containing pieces of statues as well as 14th and 15th century decorative floor tiles.