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