Medieval Normandy - Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance

Travel by Eurostar at c. 10.30am from London St Pancras to Paris, and by coach to Mantes, home to the French royal collegiate church of Notre-Dame. Transfer by coach to Rouen where five nights are spent.

Unquestionably the greatest city of Normandy, and one which retains enough of its historic fabric to rank among the most architecturally enthralling cities of northern Europe. Visits include the wonderfully inventive cathedral, the Palais de Justice and the important late Gothic churches of St-Ouen and St-Maclou.

Drive along the Seine to Caudebec-en-Caux to see the virtuosic parish church of Notre-Dame and on to the great ducal monastery of La Trinité at Fécamp. The afternoon is spent at the peerless ruined abbey of Jumièges, one of a handful of buildings which might be said to mark the arrival of mature Romanesque architecture in Europe and finally, the altogether more intimate spaces of St-Martin-de-Boscherville

A morning excursion will take in Conches-en-Ouche, famed for its late medieval and early Renaissance stained glass and Bernay - the essential starting point for an understanding of Norman Romanesque. Some free time in Rouen later in the afternoon.

From the ruins of the Château Gaillard, Richard I’s mighty castle defending the approaches into Normandy, there are spectacular views of the Seine valley. Below is Grand Andely, centred around the church of Notre-Dame (13th and 15th century), while in Petit Andely is the 13th-century church of St-Sauveur.  Return to Rouen via Écouis to see the stunning 14th-century sculpture that still embellishes the church.

Caen, capital of Basse-Normandie, offers a feast of celebrated Romanesque buildings, the great abbey churches of St-Etienne and La Trinité both buildings of the first rank built c. 1065 to c. 1140. First of two nights at Château d’Audrieu.

The Bayeux tapestry, subject of much scholarly attention and an object whose splendour and importance can scarcely be overstated, is one of those rare ‘marvels’ which exceeds expectations. Bayeux cathedral is an exceptional building whose piecemeal 13th-century rebuilding programme had the effect of producing an essentially Gothicised Romanesque interior. Afternoon visits to the cathedral at Coutances – a superb example of Norman 13th-century Gothic – and the stunning Romanesque abbey church at Cerisy-la-Forêt. 

Evreux’s diocesan museum has been beautifully refurbished and now houses both the exquisite 13th-century shrine of St-Taurin and the English alabaster retable of St George from La Celle. We will follow this with visits to Evreux’s variously Romanesque and Gothic cathedral along with the gloriously ramshackle monastic church of St Taurin. Continue to Paris and return by Eurostar to London St Pancras arriving at c. 8.30pm.