Monastère des Bénédictines de Caen

Monastère des Bénédictines de Caen is a Benedictine monastery in the Couvrechef district, north of central Caen, in Normandy's Calvados department. The current building dates from the 1950s, replacing an earlier home for the community that was destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944.

When was the Benedictine community in Caen founded?

The Benedictine nuns of the Blessed Sacrament established their first monastery in Caen in 1643, settling into the former Hôtel de Loraille at the corner of what are now rue de Geôle and rue du Tour-de-terre, in the historic heart of the city. The community lived there for generations before the French Revolution forced the sisters out. They did not return to Caen until 1816, when they moved into the former Cordeliers convent and rebuilt it to suit their needs.

What happened to the monastery during the Second World War?

On 7 July 1944, during the Battle of Normandy, Allied bombing raids on Caen destroyed the monastery building. The sisters were forced to leave the city and took refuge for several years at the Château de Vaux-sur-Aure, near Bayeux. The loss of their historic home in the city centre set in motion the construction of an entirely new monastery elsewhere in Caen.

How was the present-day monastery in Couvrechef built?

The new monastery rose in Couvrechef, on the northern edge of the city. Plans were drawn up in 1954 by Jean Zunz, a young Parisian architect, who designed the building for a community of up to 200 nuns, even though only around 80 sisters were living there at the time. The foundation stone was laid on 24 September 1953, in the presence of André Jacquemin, Bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux. Construction work was formally accepted on 16 April 1959, and the monastery was solemnly dedicated on 24 September 1960. The building is today listed as a French historic monument (monument historique).

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the monastery located? The Monastère des Bénédictines stands in the Couvrechef district, north of central Caen, in the Calvados department of Normandy.

When was the Benedictine community in Caen founded? The Benedictine nuns of the Blessed Sacrament founded their first monastery in Caen in 1643, in the former Hôtel de Loraille in the city centre.

Why is the current building relatively modern? The community's earlier home, the former Cordeliers convent, was destroyed on 7 July 1944 during Allied bombing raids in the Battle of Normandy. The present building in Couvrechef was built between 1953 and 1960.

Who designed the current monastery? The building was designed by Jean Zunz, a young Parisian architect who drew up the plans in 1954 for a community of up to 200 nuns.

Is the monastery a protected historic site? Yes, the Monastère des Bénédictines de Caen is listed as a French historic monument (monument historique).