Abbaye aux Dames

The Abbaye aux Dames (Sainte-Trinité) is a Romanesque jewel founded in 1060 by Matilda of Flanders, Duchess of Normandy and Queen of England. This masterpiece of creamy Caen stone stands as a sister monument to William the Conqueror's abbey.

The Queen's Tomb and the Crypt

The church choir houses the original black marble tomb of Queen Matilda, who was buried here in 1083. Below the altar lies a remarkable 11th-century crypt, a "forest of columns" that remains one of the most evocative and well-preserved medieval spaces in Normandy.

A Modern Seat of Power

The 18th-century monastic buildings have been repurposed as the headquarters for the Normandy Regional Council. Visitors can explore the historic cloisters and the "Grand Vestibule," while the surrounding park offers an exceptional panoramic view over the "City of a Hundred Spires."