Église Notre-Dame de Rouvrou

Église Notre-Dame de Rouvrou is a medieval church in Ménil-Hubert-sur-Orne with early Romanesque architecture, marked by a simple nave and carved stone heads at the portal entrance. The sculptured figures depicting feline forms give the entryway an distinctive character that sets it apart.

Monks from the Abbey of Saint-Étienne de Fontenay built the original structure in the 11th century to replace an earlier parish church that had been destroyed. The building survived major upheavals and eventually returned to active worship following the French Revolution.

The church shows elements tied to medieval religious practices, particularly through its granite stalls that echo monastic traditions. These features still shape the interior today and speak to the spiritual role this place held in the Normandy region.

Access to the interior is generally available, with the adjoining presbytery and sacristy area providing orientation around the grounds. Visitors should remember this is an active religious site where respectful behavior and appropriate dress are expected.

After the French Revolution, the building fell into partial decay and temporary abandonment, yet local worshippers began secretly gathering to pray there. It was not formally reinstated for services until 1847, revealing how deeply the community valued this place.