Abbey of Notre-Dame du Bec, Le Bec-Hellouin
Plan your visit
Half Day at Abbey of Notre-Dame du Bec
1 attraction · 1h 30min · transit route
Tickets ~€7
Step-by-step route with transport options and cost breakdown
About Abbey of Notre-Dame du Bec
The Abbey of Notre-Dame du Bec is one of France's most historically significant Benedictine monasteries, founded in 1034 by Herluin, a knight who renounced warfare to pursue monastic life. During the 11th and 12th centuries, the abbey became one of the principal intellectual centers of Western Christianity, home to the renowned School of Bec that attracted scholars from across Europe. Remarkably, three of its abbots became Archbishops of Canterbury, including Saint Anselm, a Doctor of the Church.
Abbey of Notre-Dame du Bec — Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Ticket Prices
Guided Tour of Monument Buildings
Recommended45-60 minute guided tour of the cloister, chapter house, Tour Saint-Nicolas, and conventual buildings. Tours depart from the shop reception. No reservations - first come, first served. Available April-September: weekdays 10:30, 15:00, 16:00; Sundays 12:00, 15:00, 16:00. October-March: weekdays 10:30, 15:30; weekends 10:30, 15:00, 16:00. Closed Tuesdays and during religious services.
In day plans, the recommended ticket is pre-selected and included in the total price.
The name "Bec" comes from the Old Norse word "bekkr" meaning stream, reflecting the abbey's Viking heritage in Normandy. When founder Herluin first settled here around 1034, he chose this spot where a small stream flows, building his hermitage beside the water. This Norse linguistic legacy reminds visitors that Normandy was settled by Vikings just over a century before the abbey's founding.
Travel Plans for Abbey of Notre-Dame du Bec
Half Day at Abbey of Notre-Dame du Bec
Le Bec-Hellouin
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