ST ETIENNE'S CHURCH AT CAEN

WIENER, Jacques: France, 1862, Bronze, 59 mm
Obv: View of exterior    EGLISE ST ETIENNE A CAEN
Rev: View of interior
On left: FONDEE 1061 PAR GUILLAUME LE CONQUERANT
On right:  CONSACREE 1066 ACHEVEE XIV SIECLE
Signed: J. WIENER / J. WIENER 1862
Ref: Van Hoydonck 191;   Reinecke 38;Bouhy 35; Ross M249; Weiss BW271

Saint Etienne's in Caen, also called the church of L'Abbaye aux Hommes, is one of the wonders of medieval architecture.  The church was founded in 1061 by William the Conqueror and was dedicated to Saint Etienne (Stephen), patron saint of  of Pavia.  William the Conqueror was buried at L'Abbaye aux Hommes, as he wished.  However, his tomb and remains were desecrated by Protestants during the Wars of Religion, and further damaged during the French Revolution.

LINK to photos and history of St. Etienne's in Caen (from wikipedia)

LINK to History of  Ecclesiastic Architecture (from World History at KMLA)

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