Abbey of Sainte-Trinité, Benedictine abbey in Caen, France.
The Abbey of Sainte-Trinité is a Benedictine monastery in Caen featuring a church built from local stone with two towers on its facade. The interior spans nine bays with rounded arches and columns that create a rhythm of soaring spaces.
The monastery was founded in 1062 by William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders and expanded until around 1130. Its construction was funded through wealth gained from Norman military victories.
The interior decorations show capitals carved with exotic animals and a tympanum depicting the Trinity with symbols of the Four Evangelists. These ornaments reflect how the abbey connected religious life to distant lands through artistic imagination.
The building now serves as the headquarters of the Normandy Regional Council and welcomes visitors throughout the year. The spaces are easily accessible from the entrance and allow you to move through the main areas without difficulty.
The crypt holds sixteen columns arranged in four lines that create the impression of a stone forest when you walk through it. This underground space showcases medieval builders' skill in creating a sense of depth below ground.
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