Saint-Martin de Troarn abbey is located in the commune of Troarn, in the department of Calvados, 16 km east of Caen
Located to the east of the town, it was founded in the 11th century: twelve monks from the abbey of Fécamp first settled there in 1022 on the will of Roger I of Montgommery, then in 1050, Roger II replaced them with Benedictines who had previously settled in Conches. A first abbey church was erected in 1059.
Very quickly, through donations, the abbey's land area proved to be important and the monastery, seat of a barony, had at its peak eight priories, around fifty churches and many lands.
We owe the monks the draining of the marshes of the Dives (from which they exploit the peat) and the development of the crops and meadows of the Auge valley and the vines near Caen.
The abbey of Troarn was thus one of the most important in the region.
Seized and sold during the Revolution, the abbey was partly delivered to demolition: this is how the church and the cloister disappeared.
Today, there remains a convent building, rectangular in shape and with bays surmounted by pointed arches, from the 13th century. On the other hand, the chaplaincy has been moved and is now at the exit of the village, and the sculpted tomb of the knight Hugh, comrade in arms of William the Conqueror, which was housed by the abbey, is now located in the parish church of Saint-Martin-de-Marais.
Finally, the 14th century entrance gate has also been moved, serving as the entrance to the castle of Banneville-la-Campagne.
The remains still visible in the town are not open to the public, but can be observed from the outside. Information on +33 2 32 23 31 38.