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Church of Saint-Jean, Caen

Coordinates: 49°10′48″N 0°21′25″W / 49.18°N 0.357°W / 49.18; -0.357
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Church of Saint-Jean
Église Saint-Jean de Caen
Map
49°10′50″N 0°21′28″W / 49.18056°N 0.35778°W / 49.18056; -0.35778
LocationCaen, Calvados, Normandy
Country France
DenominationRoman catholic
Architecture
Heritage designationMonument historique
Designated1840
Architectural typeGothic, renaissance
Years built15th century16th century

The church of Saint-Jean de Caen is the parish church of the Saint-Jean district in Caen, France. It was classified as a historical monument in the list of French historic monuments protected in 1840.[1][2]

The first place of worship, dedicated to the Apostle John, was founded in the seventh century on a Roman road crossing the marshes of the lower valley of the Orne. This axis, connecting Augustodurum (Bayeux) to Noviomagus Lexoviorum (Lisieux), later became rue Exmoisine, now rue Saint-Jean. In 1954–1956, monolithic sarcophagi made of Caen stone were discovered during work in the church. They testify to the probable existence of a small necropolis along the Roman road and an oratory founded nearby. Of this pre-Romanesque sanctuary, nothing remains.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Base Mérimée: Église Saint-Jean, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  2. ^ Gervais de La Rue, Essais historiques sur la ville de Caen et son arrondissement, Caen, Poisson, 1820, p. 256.

49°10′48″N 0°21′25″W / 49.18°N 0.357°W / 49.18; -0.357