Abbey of Saint-ÉtienneAbbaye Saint-Étienne

Founded in 1063 by William the Conqueror as both penance and a statement of ducal authority, the Abbey of Saint-Étienne is Caen’s defining Norman Romanesque monument. Its long, measured nave and twin west towers turn stone into disciplined rhythm, projecting spiritual order alongside political ambition. Damaged, restored, and repurposed over centuries, the former monastery now houses the city hall, where civic life continues around William’s tomb.