Abbatiale de Saint-Germer-de-Fly

Saint Germer was a Frankish nobleman at the court of King Dagobert I, who entered the religious order. In 655, after the death of his son Amalbert, he founded an abbey in a marshy area known as Flay, accompanied by Saint Ouen, bishop of Rouen. In the centuries that followed, the abbey underwent successive destruction and reconstruction. Ravaged twice by the Vikings, it remained under the protection of the bishop of Beauvais until it was returned to monks in 1036, at which point the Benedictine abbey took the name of its founder: Saint Germer. The abbey church was built between 1135 and 1206 in a transitional style between Romanesque and Gothic, while the chapel of the Blessed Virgin was built from 1259 onwards, copying the Sainte Chapelle in Paris, 11 years older, in a Radiant Gothic style.
The abbey suffered further destruction, notably during the Hundred Years' War: in 1390, the towers of the abbey?s facade disappeared. Restorations and constructions were carried out several times, notably in the early 16th century.
During the French Revolution, investors bought part of the abbey to recuperate its materials. The abbey church and chapel became a parish church, a function they still perform today.
If you'd like to find out more about these unique buildings, the Pays de Bray tourist office offers touch-screen tablet rentals, guided tours and tour booklets. For further information, please contact the Tourist Office.