SAINT-JEAN'S CHURCH
Classified as a historical monument by the list of 1840, this Gothic style church was built, between the 14th and 16th centuries to replace a Romanesque church. It has a superb nave, as well as an astonishing lantern tower with sculpted walls, dating back to the Renaissance era. In this respect, the Church plan offers two special features: the choir is longer than the nave (four bays against three) and the apse is oriented towards the northeast and not towards the east. The church was damaged by the English bombs in 1944, but not irremediably (inside, you can admire Christ on the cross discovered in the rubble). The restorations took time and were completed at the end of 1964. Outside, watch how the bell-tower-porch that raises to 46 meters, clearly lean to the left! It must be said that originally, the building was on a marshy island with foundations insufficiently deep. So, despite all the consolidation work, the church has been leaning 2.28 meters. This other characteristic has earned it the nickname of the leaning tower of Pisa in Caen. Work, carried out in 2013, necessary for the consolidation of the tower-porch, allowed the discovery and study of an exceptional set of engraved tombstones, dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, buried in the basement of the building as well as numerous bones. After a closing time, the monument was returned to visitors and worshippers. A must see.
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