Jumièges Abbey – The Most Beautiful Ruins in France

France is one of the most amazing countries I’ve visited, full of beautiful buildings, castles, museums, monuments, and bridges everywhere. So when I read about a place that is the “most beautiful” in France, I’m definitely interested! The stone ruins of the Jumièges Abbey (Abbaye de Jumièges), a 7th century monastery located in the Normandy region of France, is claimed to be the most beautiful ruins in France. It’s located between Monet’s Garden and Mont Saint-Michel, both places we were planning on visiting during our Normandy trip, so I knew we had to make a stop here also. And I’m so glad we did, because these ruins are magnificent! This is possibly my favorite photo shoot setting of all time!

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Jumièges Abbey in Normandy, France

The ruins of the Jumièges Abbey are a hidden treasure in Normandy, France, somewhat overshadowed by the more well-known attractions in Normandy, such as the Mont Saint-Michel, Monet’s Garden, and the D-Day beaches. The stone ruins are set among a large, secluded park next to the Seine River and rise to nearly 50 meters (164 feet). The entire place has a very special atmosphere and feel to them. We were mesmerized as we stood in awe of the soaring vaulted walls open to the skies and absorbed the history behind them. Standing before these magnificent, beautiful, elegant stone ruins, it was easy to see why these ruins are considered among the most beautiful and outstanding in France!

Being able to explore the ruins without the typical tourist crowds made them feel even more special. These photos are among my favorites of all time. I highly recommend it as a side trip from Paris or Rouen, or as part of a trip to Normandy!

About the Jumieges Abbey

Jumièges Abbey was founded in the 7th century and was one of the most important Benedictine monasteries in Normandy and France. The magnificence of these ruins is a testament to the prominence and power of monasteries in France during that time. It was destroyed in the 19th century after the French Revolution and became a stone quarry for a time before it became State property and later opened to the public. 

The ruins are comprised of: 

• Notre Dame’s Church, with its beautiful twin towers, western façade, nave, and transept.
• St. Peter’s Church, which houses the oldest vestiges of the abbey from before the Viking invasions in the 9th century. The cloisters, which were entirely destroyed, opened to the chapter house, where once can see stone sarcophagi inside which monks were buried in the 12t and 13th centures. 
• The Caretaker’s Office, which originally housed the stables, was renovated into a Gothic Revival style dwelling in the 1850s and now houses the reception office.

More information can be found on the Jumieges Abbey’s website.

Getting to the Ruins

Jumièges Abbey is about a two-hour drive from Paris, or about 30 minutes from Rouen. It’s a wonderful side trip from Rouen, a charming Medieval town that is Normandy’s cultural, historic, and gastronomic capital. (Rouen is also famous as the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.) The ruins can also be visited as part of a tour of Normandy.

We visited Jumièges Abbey as part of our road trip through Normandy, during which we also visited Mont Saint-Michel and Monet’s Garden, the D-Day Beaches, and Bayeux. We stopped by the ruins on the way from Bayeux to Rouen and were so glad we did!

Practical Information

Jumièges Abbey is open daily from:
9:30 am to 6:30 pm from 15 April to 15 September
9:30 am to 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm from 16 September to 14 April
Last tickets sold 30 minutes before the closing of the site.

Admissions
Adults: 7 €

For more information regarding hours and admissions, please check the Jumièges Abbey website.

Photography Tips for Jumieges Abbey

• Since the structures are so tall, nearly 50 meters (164 feet), you’ll need a wide angle lens to capture the entire thing.

• This is also a great place for portraits, which I recommend a prime lens for, such as a 50 mm lens.

• If it’s a bright day, head to one of the arched entry ways or passages which are usually shaded.

• You may want to walk the entire area first to identify photo location spots instead of spending too much time in one place – there are so many beautiful spots here!

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Pansy ❤️

Hi, I’m Pansy!

Hello, thanks for stopping by! I’m Pansy, California-based travel blogger, photographer and lover of ALL the pretty flowers! You may notice that most of my travels, photography & DIY center around flowers and nature! 🌸🌼🌿

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