St. Taurin's Abbey Church, Évreux, France

Founded in the 10th century by Richard sans Peur (Richard the Fearless), duke of Normandy, the St. Taurin's abbey church was built on the suspicious spot of St. Taurin grave, the first bishop and evangelizer of Evreux. During the Hundred Years' War the abbey was burnt down. It was left to decay and the last monks were banished during the Revolution. The former Benedictine abbey church became a parish church. The church, several times restructured, presents a wide range of architectural styles from 12th to 19th century.

The shrine, masterpiece of silversmith ordered in 1253, is unique in the world. Ordered in 1253 by Abbey Gilbert de Saint Martin, it contains some relics of Saint Taurin and Saint Laudulphe, who, according to legends, found the location of the grave of Saint Taurin thanks to a dream. The reliquary, medieval masterpiece of silversmith, is really delicate: it has been built like a mini gothic cathedral, covered with gold leaf, gilded copper and silver, with enamels and precious stones inlaid. The shrine, kept in a chapel, weights about 82kg, is 1.20m high and 1.05m long.

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Evreux Tourism

User Reviews

SILVERT Valérie (3 years ago)
Very nice little church that is worth the detour - do not hesitate to enter it

Raphael T. Inoue (3 years ago)
Saint Taurin Church is a small church, but very beautiful and charming. It was built in the 10th century and is protected as a historical monument.

daniele duvallet (4 years ago)
I found that it was better with the whites and his partaire of flowers

Eric Dupuis (4 years ago)
As dab yen is only for the city center to quen the works for the high district I do not tell you thank you mr the mayor that in your see the state of the road I think there is something else to do than the city center on all quile nor has anyone who goes there comérsen ons closed

José Juan Ordóñez (4 years ago)
Preciosa iglesia de Evreux. Dedicada a San Taurin, personaje muy importante de esta ciudad

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

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St. Taurin's Abbey Church

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