Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Boîte aux lettres

Cerisy-la-Forêt - Abbey Saint-Vigor

15 Sep 2014 1 1 352
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.