77 Rouen - the Abbatiale of St Owen/ Saint Ouen . The "Jewel of Normandy" and the renovation works

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77  Rouen – the Abbatiale St Audoin

This used to be a Benedictine Monastery but there is practically only the church bit left. Saint Audoin or Owen (Saint Ouen in French) was buried here back in the seventh century. Saint Ouen is a saint you hear lots about in Paris, there is even an exit to the ring road entitled « Porte de Saint Ouen ». He was a courtier and a bishop, and wrote a biography of a goldsmith friend of his, in Latin, natch.

A few previous versions of the church burned down, and the oldest parts remaining are fourteenth century.

Well-preserved stained glass. Very substantial repair work is going on on the outside of the church, and there is a big local fundraising scheme to get the money to renovate the huge rose stained glass window.

Somewhat original confessionals.





































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