Abbaye aux Dames
Abbaye aux Dames
4.5
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Monday
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Friday
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
477 reviews
Excellent
221
Very good
173
Average
72
Poor
10
Terrible
1
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PierreBriere
Saint-Joachim, France9,732 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Free access (unlike the Abbey of Men) but paid guided tour. Conventual buildings disappointing because occupied by the Regional Trip Tip => only the (incomplete) cloister is visible. In the Malherbe Hall, exhibition on the Sicilian campaign in 1943 (in 39 days, Sicily was liberated and the armistice, between Italy and the Allies, signed in Cassibile on September 3, 1943 - Video on German remains in Sicily). On the other hand, very beautiful Romanesque church of the Trinity (11th century) with its nave with 9 bays, historiated capitals, the culdefour vault of the chancel and the Way of the Cross with comics graphics in a quadrilobed setting.
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Written August 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
わわむ
Shenzhen, China2,220 contributions
Oct 2024 • Friends
A convent of women in the city of Caen. It had a church attached to it, and when I visited on Sundays, many people gathered for meetings. It feels great to be a historic building but also a part of people's lives today.
The regular Directions are to enter the building from the courtyard, not the church, if you wish to visit.
The regular Directions are to enter the building from the courtyard, not the church, if you wish to visit.
Automatically translated
Written October 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexandra P
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
Magnificent place to absolutely see without neglecting the guided tour which was really necessary to understand and learn the history of this abbey.
Details of the architecture and paintings, very interesting anecdotes about the life of this place, past and present, and its inhabitants.
As a bonus, a visit to the Church of the Holy Trinity and its crypt adjoining the abbey.
Agathe was a wonderful guide, full of enthusiasm, very competent and friendly.
I highly recommend.
Details of the architecture and paintings, very interesting anecdotes about the life of this place, past and present, and its inhabitants.
As a bonus, a visit to the Church of the Holy Trinity and its crypt adjoining the abbey.
Agathe was a wonderful guide, full of enthusiasm, very competent and friendly.
I highly recommend.
Written August 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Regina P
Hannover, Germany3,570 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
The monastery was founded by Matilda in 1060 because the Pope did not want to recognize her marriage to her cousin William the Conqueror.
Today it is the seat of the Normandy regional parliament.
The church is well worth seeing and houses Matilda's burial place. There is an entrance fee for the monastery and garden.
Today it is the seat of the Normandy regional parliament.
The church is well worth seeing and houses Matilda's burial place. There is an entrance fee for the monastery and garden.
Written March 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathryn W
Birmingham, UK236 contributions
Final resting place of Queen Matilda, William the Conquerors wife. Takes 5 minutes to go around. No interpretation etc. I only say I would recommend it because if you go to see Williams tomb, see Matilda's
Written November 1, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bubbles73uk
Weedon Bec, UK849 contributions
Sep 2019
This Romanesque abbey was founded by Matilda of Flanders, the Duchess of Normandy, Queen of England and the wife of William the Conqueror. Her final resting place can be seen but the abbey only takes about 5 minutes to go around - there is no interpretation or anything like that. However I would recommend it because it is one of the gems of Norman heritage, and if you go to see Williams tomb, you really have to see Matilda's.
Written October 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr. Bob
Holiday, FL789 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
To reach this abbey on foot which entails a not too strenuous walk to the top of the hill on which this Abbey is located, one suggests taking the Rue des Chanoines which is a direct shot leading to the plaza fronting the church.
William the Conqueror resolved to marry Mathilda, but the marriage was opposed by Pope Leo IX on grounds that the two were cousins five times, not seven times, removed. Disregarding the papal objection the two were married in a discreet ceremony about 1050. A papal pardon was granted for the marriage by Pope Nicholas II in 1059, but as penance for his marriage to Mathilda which Pope Leo IX had opposed, William was now obliged to erect four hospitals and two abbeys. As a result the Abbeye aux Hommes, or St. Etienne, is associated with William and the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, the so-called Abbaye aux Dames, is associated with his wife, Mathilda.
The façade of this church rises majestically and towers over the plaza in front of it, providing a perfect photo op. The tympanum over the central portal is decorated with a magnificent frieze depicting the Holy Trinity, to whom the abbey is dedicated, sitting in a row flanked on the left and right by symbols of the Four Evangelists. The Abbey contains the tomb of Mathilda, wife of William the Conqueror, covered with an inscribed black marble tomb stone which praises Mathilda, in part by stating that “She loved piety. She comforted the poor.”
The tomb of Mathilda is located behind what is normally a roped-off, inaccessible part of the church, but not to worry. Walk along the left-hand side, passing the roped-off area and you will find an archway with a few steps. Walk up the steps. The roped-off area will be behind you so that you can get an up-close and personal view of her tomb.
William the Conqueror resolved to marry Mathilda, but the marriage was opposed by Pope Leo IX on grounds that the two were cousins five times, not seven times, removed. Disregarding the papal objection the two were married in a discreet ceremony about 1050. A papal pardon was granted for the marriage by Pope Nicholas II in 1059, but as penance for his marriage to Mathilda which Pope Leo IX had opposed, William was now obliged to erect four hospitals and two abbeys. As a result the Abbeye aux Hommes, or St. Etienne, is associated with William and the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, the so-called Abbaye aux Dames, is associated with his wife, Mathilda.
The façade of this church rises majestically and towers over the plaza in front of it, providing a perfect photo op. The tympanum over the central portal is decorated with a magnificent frieze depicting the Holy Trinity, to whom the abbey is dedicated, sitting in a row flanked on the left and right by symbols of the Four Evangelists. The Abbey contains the tomb of Mathilda, wife of William the Conqueror, covered with an inscribed black marble tomb stone which praises Mathilda, in part by stating that “She loved piety. She comforted the poor.”
The tomb of Mathilda is located behind what is normally a roped-off, inaccessible part of the church, but not to worry. Walk along the left-hand side, passing the roped-off area and you will find an archway with a few steps. Walk up the steps. The roped-off area will be behind you so that you can get an up-close and personal view of her tomb.
Written June 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sam M
Wagga Wagga, Australia220 contributions
Caen city itself isn't anything special but the cathedral has nice grounds and an excellent tomb for William the Conqueror. But it's really the only real attraction in this rather disappointing city.
Written November 19, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ValMacPortsmouthUK
Portsmouth UK58 contributions
Apr 2011
We walked through the Chateau grounds and followed the road signs to the Abbaye aux Dames and we were not disappointed.
This fantastic church is light airy and has some of the most beautiful stonework-the lack of information in the church did not prove troublesome.
The beauty of the church is worth the visit and comparisons can be made to some of the UK Cathedrals and so please do go there and then go to the Abbaye aux Hommes as the contrast is clear between the two. As both Abbayes were built to allow the reinstatement of William the Conqueror and Mathilde back into the Church it was amazing gift to the Church. Worth a visit, enjoy
This fantastic church is light airy and has some of the most beautiful stonework-the lack of information in the church did not prove troublesome.
The beauty of the church is worth the visit and comparisons can be made to some of the UK Cathedrals and so please do go there and then go to the Abbaye aux Hommes as the contrast is clear between the two. As both Abbayes were built to allow the reinstatement of William the Conqueror and Mathilde back into the Church it was amazing gift to the Church. Worth a visit, enjoy
Written April 22, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane P
Portsmouth, UK10 contributions
Jan 2020
Had a great time walking about Caen. We walked around the Abbaye aux Dames and was most impressed by the beauty of the abbey.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Apologies, I was thinking of the accommodation at which I stayed. The church would be fine for limited mobility.
Written September 25, 2018
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