Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives (Canton of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives, Calvados) Abbey church of Saint-Pierre

   The church of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives is that of the former Benedictine abbey founded by the Countess Lesceline, wife of Guillaume d’Eu, brother of the Duke of Normandy Richard II. The first church, consecrated in 1067, burned down in 1106. It was rebuilt, and then virtually completed under the abbotship of abbot Haimon at the end of the first half of the 12^th century. Further work was however carried out during the 13^th century. In the 16^th century, this second church, in a very poor state of repair, was completely rebuilt by the abbot Jacques de Silly.
From Haimon's building, all the remains is the Saint-Michel tower, located to the south of the façade, with its four floors of arches. The final level on each face, presents a broken arch bay surrounded by four oculi.

Bibliography

- Caumont, Arcisse (de). - Statistique monumentale du Calvados, Hardel, Caen, 1859, 4 vol., T. III, p. 537 à 554
- Degroult, Michel. - L’abbatiale de Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives, Syndicat d’initiative de Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives, Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives, 1974
- Gouley, Roger. - Histoire de l’abbaye de Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives, Imprimerie Varin, Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives, 1989