Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Cerisy-la-Forêt

Legends tell, that Saint Vigor, Bishop of Bayeux, founded a convent here within the 6th century. In 1032 Robert I, Duke of Normandy, (aka "Robert the Magnificent", "Robert le Magnifique"), father of William the Conqueror, who became a pious man in his older age (and died during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem), sponsored the Benedictine abbey and so the erection of the abbey-church started the same year. The abbey was wealthy and important in medieval times, but declined like most other convents. It existed upto the French Revolution, when the last six monks were forced to leave. The abbey got sold and most of the conventual buildings got demolished. The church was in a bad state after an earthquake (!) in 1775. It got renovated within the 19th century, since then serves the parish. Like the church, the former gatehouse survived the times. One of the austere rooms may have been used as a local prison within the 19th century. One inmate counted the days..

Legends tell, that Saint Vigor, Bishop of Bayeux, founded a convent here within the 6th century. In 1032 Robert I, Duke of Normandy, (aka "Robert the Magnificent", "Robert le Magnifique"), father of William the Conqueror, who became a pious man in his older age (and died during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem), sponsored the Benedictine abbey and so the erection of the abbey-church started the same year. The abbey was wealthy and important in medieval times, but declined like most other convents. It existed upto the French Revolution, when the last six monks were forced to leave. The abbey got sold and most of the conventual buildings got demolished. The church was in a bad state after an earthquake (!) in 1775. It got renovated within the 19th century, since then serves the parish. Like the church, the former gate house survived the times. The walls of the building are covered with carved graffiti and many decades ago "La Poste" installed a "Boîte aux lettres" here.

Legends tell, that Saint Vigor, Bishop of Bayeux, founded a convent here within the 6th century. In 1032 Robert I, Duke of Normandy, (aka "Robert the Magnificent", "Robert le Magnifique"), father of William the Conqueror, who became a pious man in his older age (and died during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem), sponsored the Benedictine abbey and so the erection of the abbey-church started the same year. The abbey was wealthy and important in medieval times, but declined like most other convents. It existed upto the French Revolution, when the last six monks were forced to leave. The abbey got sold and most of the conventual buildings got demolished. The church was in a bad state after an earthquake (!) in 1775. It got renovated within the 19th century, since then serves the parish. The younger, Gothic carvings are much more elegant, than the rough Romanesque. Here are two carvings, depicting musicians. A bagpiper to the left.

Legends tell, that Saint Vigor, Bishop of Bayeux, founded a convent here within the 6th century. In 1032 Robert I, Duke of Normandy, (aka "Robert the Magnificent", "Robert le Magnifique"), father of William the Conqueror, who became a pious man in his older age (and died during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem), sponsored the Benedictine abbey and so the erection of the abbey-church started the same year. The abbey was wealthy and important in medieval times, but declined like most other convents. It existed upto the French Revolution, when the last six monks were forced to leave. The abbey got sold and most of the conventual buildings got demolished. The church was in a bad state after an earthquake (!) in 1775. It got renovated within the 19th century, since then serves the parish. Most of the Romanesque capitals are roughly carved like these lionheads. They were surely painted once. Some color can still be seen.

Legends tell, that Saint Vigor, Bishop of Bayeux, founded a convent here within the 6th century. In 1032 Robert I, Duke of Normandy, (aka "Robert the Magnificent", "Robert le Magnifique"), father of William the Conqueror, who became a pious man in his older age (and died during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem), sponsored the Benedictine abbey and so the erection of the abbey-church started the same year. The abbey was wealthy and important in medieval times, but declined like most other convents. It existed upto the French Revolution, when the last six monks were forced to leave. The abbey got sold and most of the conventual buildings got demolished. The church was in a bad state after an earthquake (!) in 1775. It got renovated within the 19th century, since then serves the parish. Seen here is the extraordinary choir.

Legends tell, that Saint Vigor, Bishop of Bayeux, founded a convent here within the 6th century. In 1032 Robert I, Duke of Normandy, (aka "Robert the Magnificent", "Robert le Magnifique"), father of William the Conqueror, who became a pious man in his older age (and died during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem), sponsored the Benedictine abbey and so the erection of the abbey-church started the same year. The abbey was wealthy and important in medieval times, but declined like most other convents. It existed upto the French Revolution, when the last six monks were forced to leave. The abbey got sold and most of the conventual buildings got demolished. The church was in a bad state after an earthquake (!) in 1775. It got renovated within the 19th century, since then serves the parish. Standing in the nave facing east to the extraordinary choir.

Legends tell, that Saint Vigor, Bishop of Bayeux, founded a convent here within the 6th century. In 1032 Robert I, Duke of Normandy, (aka "Robert the Magnificent", "Robert le Magnifique"), father of William the Conqueror, who became a pious man in his older age (and died during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem), sponsored the Benedictine abbey and so the erection of the abbey-church started the same year. The abbey was wealthy and important in medieval times, but declined like most other convents. It existed upto the French Revolution, when the last six monks were forced to leave. The abbey got sold and most of the conventual buildings got demolished. The church was in a bad state after an earthquake (!) in 1775. It got renovated within the 19th century, since then serves the parish. The structure of the choir It has a highly interesting 3 storey choir, seen here from east.

Legends tell, that Saint Vigor, Bishop of Bayeux, founded a convent here within the 6th century. In 1032 Robert I, Duke of Normandy, (aka "Robert the Magnificent", "Robert le Magnifique"), father of William the Conqueror, who became a pious man in his older age (and died during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem), sponsored the Benedictine abbey and so the erection of the abbey-church started the same year. The abbey was wealthy and important in medieval times, but declined like most other convents. It existed upto the French Revolution, when the last six monks were forced to leave. The abbey got sold and most of the conventual buildings got demolished. A closer look on to the church, that was in a bad state after an earthquake (!) in 1775. It got renovated within the 19th century, since then serves the parish. The structure of the choir It has a highly interesting 3 storey choir.

Legends tell, that Saint Vigor, Bishop of Bayeux, founded a convent here within the 6th century. In 1032 Robert I, Duke of Normandy, (aka "Robert the Magnificent", "Robert le Magnifique"), father of William the Conqueror, who became a pious man in his older age (and died during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem), sponsored the Benedictine abbey and so the erection of the abbey-church, seen here, started the same year. The abbey was wealthy and important in medieval times, but declined like most other convents. It existed upto the French Revolution, when the last six monks were forced to leave. The abbey got sold and most of the conventual buildings got demolished. The church, that was in a bad state but got renovated within the 19th century, since then serves the parish.