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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Sainte-Marie de Longues Abbey, located in Longues-sur-Mer in Calvados, is a former Benedictine monastery founded in 1168 by Hugues Wac, a Norman knight. He offered the land and several donations, confirmed by the King of England and Duke of Normandy, Henry II. The abbey, the first daughter of Hambye Abbey, joined the Order of Cluny in 1600. It grew considerably between the 13th and 14th centuries, before declining under the commende regime from 1526, then closing in the 18th century.

The Bacon and Argouges families, lords of Normandy, were among his great benefactors, and some of their members were buried there. The abbey, rich in more than 40,000 pounds of income at its peak, was converted into a farm after its closure. The restorations carried out in the 20th and 21st centuries by the Dewey families (1932-1964) and Anglejan Chatillon (since 1964) have preserved this heritage, now classified as a historic monument in its entirety.

The abbey features remarkable architecture, including its 13th or 14th century varnished pavements, medieval frescoes in the refectory, and an Armo-American structure unique in Normandy. It also houses burials of local lords, such as that of Jacques d'Argouges (1510). After centuries of transformation and degradation, recent works have saved emblematic elements, such as the choir, restored thanks to the Heritage Lotto in 2022.

Classified as a historic monument since 2006, the abbey is now open to visit, especially at commemorative events, such as the 850th anniversary of its foundation in 2018. Its buildings, including the ruined abbey church, the 14th century abbey house, and agricultural outbuildings, offer an exceptional witness to Norman monastic life and its evolution throughout the centuries.

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