Origin and history

The church of Saint-Laurent is the abbey of Notre-Dame de Silly-en-Gouffern, located in the commune of Gouffern in Auge, Normandy. This religious monument, whose exact period of construction or activity is not specified in the available sources, demonstrates the importance of monastic establishments in this region. Pre-showed abbeys, such as Silly-en-Gouffern, played a central role in the spiritual, economic and social life of rural areas in the Middle Ages and in modern times.

They often structured local communities around agricultural activities, prayers and assistance to the poorest. Gouffern in Auge, like other Norman villages, was probably marked by this monastic presence, although the details specific to this abbey remain little documented in current sources.