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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The abbey of Saint-Vigor found its origins in the sixth century, when Saint Vigor, bishop of Bayeux, founded around 525 a monastery dedicated to Saint Peter on Mount Phene, renamed Mount Chrismat. The site, formerly pagan, houses Merovingian burials and Gallo-Roman traces. At his death St Vigor was buried there, and the monastery took his name. In 981, the relics of Saint Vigor were transferred to Saint-Riquier in Picardie, and the abbey was destroyed.

In the 11th century, Odon de Bayeux tried to restore the abbey with monks from Mont-Saint-Michel, but the initiative failed because of political and religious conflicts. The abbey then became a priory attached to Saint-Bénigne de Dijon, under the impulse of Odon and with the confirmation of Robert de Normandie in 1096. Several popes validate this dependence between 1097 and 1127. Despite partial reconstructions, such as that of 1579 after the collapse of a tower, the priory gradually declined.

In 1712 the priory was freed from the rights of the Abbé de Saint-Bénigne, and in 1791 his property was sold as national property for 156,000 francs. Today, there are only medieval remains, including a porterie listed as a historic monument in 1908 and a barn. These elements recall the historic importance of this site, marked by phases of destruction, reconstruction and institutional transformation.

The abbey illustrates the religious and political dynamics of medieval Normandy, between episcopal influence, ducal power and monastic reforms. Its history also reflects the upheavals associated with Norman invasions, the conflicts between the Church and secular authorities, as well as the Maurist reforms introduced in the 18th century by Barthélemi Robin.

Archaeological excavations have confirmed the ancient occupation of the site, mixing Gallo-Roman, Merovingian and medieval heritages. The porterie, the only classified element, symbolizes the historic entrance of this priory, now owned by an association and partially accessible to the public.

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