Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Saint-Gabriel-Brécy

The priory was established in 1058 by Benedictine monks of the powerful abbey in Fecamp (150 kms north east) with the of the local Baron of Creully. End of the 17th century, the priory was in decline and soon after the abbey church partly collapsed. Most of the conventual buildings got demolished, when the priory got sold after the French Revolution and converted into a farm. One of the still existing buildings is the former gatehouse. Here all the walls are covered with graffiti. Ships and boats can often be found carved into walls, especially (like here) near to the sea.

The priory was established in 1058 by Benedictine monks of the powerful abbey in Fecamp (150 kms north east) with the of the local Baron of Creully. End of the 17th century, the priory was in decline and soon after the abbey church partly collapsed. Most of the conventual buildings got demolished, when the priory got sold after the French Revolution and converted into a farm. One of the still existing buildings is the former gatehouse. Here all the walls are covered with graffiti.

The priory was established in 1058 by Benedictine monks of the powerful abbey in Fecamp (150 kms north east) with the of the local Baron of Creully. Most of the conventual buildings and the largest part of the abbey church got demolished, when the priory got sold after the French Revolution. Seen here is the ruin of the former choir. I did not intrude any further, as since 1929 here is a School of Horticulture. The website gives a nice overview. www.ecole-paysage-horticulture.fr/

The church, dating back to the 12th century, is dedicated to Saint Thomas of Canterbury (aka "Thomas Becket"), what may have been a "political statement", against the House of Plantagenet. Thomas of Canterbury had been Henry II´s Lord Chancellor, but later he engaged in conflict with Henry II over the rights and privileges of the Church. In 1170 he was murdered by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral. He was canonized already three years later.