Rives En Seine July 2016 Eglise Notre Dame De Caudebec En Caux Aerial View Rosace Jf Drone N Caux

Notre-Dame church of Caudebec-en-Caux

As Victor Hugo said, “It’s a lace of stone”.

Notre-Dame de Caudebec-en-Caux is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Built in the Romanesque style as early as the 12th century, it became a flamboyant Gothic jewel in the 15th century.

Resilience and Renaissance a historical gem

It dominates Caudebec-en-Caux with its splendor and majesty. However, since the Renaissance, the church has fallen on hard times. During the Council of Thirty and even more so during the French Revolution, it was the target of damage. Its salvation came with its classification as a historical monument in the mid-19th century.

Notre-Dame was then pampered for a century. A series of restoration projects ensured that the church retained all its beauty.

The year 1940 could have been fatal. Following an Allied bombing raid, the town of Caudebec-en-Caux was partly destroyed by a huge fire. The church remained standing, but the damage was extensive. It was not until 50 years later, in 1990, that the restoration work begun in the aftermath of the Second World War came to an end, restoring the church to its former glory.

Rives En Seine July 2016 Eglise Notre Dame De Caudebec En Caux Jf Drone N Caux

Rives En Seine July 2016 Eglise Notre Dame De Caudebec En Caux Aerial View Perle Du Val De Seine Jf Drone N Caux

Rives En Seine July 2016 Eglise Notre Dame De Caudebec En Caux Patrimoine Culturel Vue Du Ciel Jf Drone N Caux

Rives En Seine December 2023 Notre Dame De Caudebec En Caux Church Organ Interior Seine Maritime Csnt

A journey of sound
through the ages An exceptional organ

But let’s go inside. Push open the heavy doors and discover the immensity of the place. The sun streams in, flooding the bays with its colorful reflections through the stained-glass windows. It illuminates the statues and statuettes, which seem to be conversing, with its softness and clarity.

But wouldn’t they rather be captivated by the masterly organ rising above the main portal?

Built in 1542, it was enlarged two centuries later from one to four manuals. Patriotic tunes were played on the organ during the French Revolution to prevent it from suffering too much damage.

The Notre-Dame organ was completely dismantled in 2002. On this occasion, the 2700 steel and tin pipes were restored. Today, its reputation extends far beyond the borders of Normandy.

The commune of Rives-en-Seine is currently launching a sponsorship campaign to restore the church spire and bell tower.