Hambye Abbey

Construction (1/7)

The abbey was founded in 1145 by Guillaume Painel, but the first stones were laid in 1150. That time was spent choosing its location and preparing for building (clearing, drying, levelling and channelling the land). The lord set his heart on Hambye because it was in a valley and would be out of sight, and was next to the Sienne and Doquette rivers. The nearby woods and quarry were also important reasons for building Hambye Abbey on this land. The wood was used for the roof structure and rocks were taken from the shale quarry. Caen stone and Chausey granite were also used in the building.

(2/7)

The first Benedictine monks, from Tiron in the Perche region, arrived in Hambye from1147 onwards. The building work took around a century to complete. The first architect who worked on Hambye Abbey also worked on the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel and Coutances Cathedral. A “transition” style, between Romanesque and Gothic, was partly used for the building.

Life at the Abbey (3/7)

Hambye Abbey reached its peak in the 13th century, when its community of Benedictine monks ranged from around 20 to 30 members. Peasants and lay brothers also lived within the abbey grounds. The lay brothers helped the monks with the harder work so that they could devote themselves to prayer. The lay brothers followed the same rules as the Benedictine monks, in particular the Rule of Saint Benedict. The monks thus took vows of obedience, stability and conversatio morum. In total, around 50 people lived at the abbey at that time.

The decline (4/7)

Gradually, over the centuries, the abbey declined as the monks disappeared without being replaced. By the 18th century, only six monks remained. The last one left before the French Revolution, leaving the abbey empty. During the Revolution, the monastic buildings were abandoned and the church was deconsecrated. Over the years, the buildings were taken over by farmers and the abbey was turned into a farm. The furniture was auctioned off and the buildings were sold as a quarry, which explains why the roof is missing. The cloisters were partly dismantled and the stones were sold and reused in nearby buildings, especially farms.

 Purchase by the Beck family (5/7)

After this period, the church and buildings were again abandoned and nature took over. In the 19th century, the site was a place for romantic strolls. In 1902, the church was classed as a historical ruin and was therefore never rebuilt. It was not until 1956 that a couple from Gavray, the Becks, bought the monastic buildings. At first, they planned to hunt in the surrounding woods, but gradually realised the historical importance of the site. The renovations were launched by Elizabeth Beck, who, upon the death of her husband, found herself responsible for the monastic buildings. What she initially thought of as a “poisoned chalice” eventually became her cause. Over time, she met with heritage associations and took part in a TV programme about safeguarding French heritage, where she won second prize, enabling the restoration work. She also opened the site to the public, and the entry fees financed some of the work.

(6/7)

In 1964, the department of La Manche bought some of the buildings (the gatehouse and church, which had belonged to the state since 1810). Today, the site is classed as a historic monument and is semi-private/public. Bernard Beck, Elizabeth Beck’s son, and his wife still live in the monastic buildings, in the monks’ wing. Some of the private buildings are nevertheless open to the public, and Bernard Beck occasionally gives guided tours. The furniture and objects now found in the buildings were sourced by the Beck family, as everything that was originally in the abbey was sold to auction during the French Revolution.

Good to know (7/7)

There is still considerable uncertainty surrounding the history of Hambye Abbey between the 13th and centuries, as the records were destroyed when the departmental archives were bombed during WW2.

The town of Hambye has special links with Monaco’s royal family. Prince Albert of Monaco has visited the site several times.