Caen stone

Caen stone

Caen stone or "Pierre de Caen", is a light creamy-yellow Jurassic limestone quarried in northwestern France near the city of Caen.

It was used in the construction of the late eleventh century austere Norman Romanesque Church of Saint-Étienne, at the Abbaye-aux-Hommes (on the east side of Caen), that was founded by William the Conqueror. His tomb is located there.

The Norman Romanesque Church of La Trinité, at the Abbaye-aux-Dames (on the west side of the city), was founded by William's wife, Matilda. Her tomb is located there.

Both abbeys are beautiful structures built with Caen stone in Norman Romanesque style, and both were unscathed by an intense bombing campaign in July 1944 that destroyed much of the city.

This stone was also a popular building material with the Normans in England. It was used in both the cathedral and castle at Norwich, where it was brought by boat up the River Wensum. Caen stone was also used extensively in Canterbury cathedral. Perhaps the most famous buildings in Caen stone are Tower of London and Buckingham Palace.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Caen stone — Ca en stone , A cream colored limestone for building, found near Caen, France. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • caen-stone — /kāˈən stōn/ noun A cream coloured limestone from Caen /kã/ in France …   Useful english dictionary

  • caen stone — ˈkäⁿ , ˈkān noun Usage: usually capitalized C Etymology: Caen, city in Normandy, France, near which it is found 1. : a yellowish limestone marked with a rippled figure 2. : freestone 3 * * * a cream colored limestone quarried near Caen, France,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Caen stone — noun see freestone I * * * a cream colored limestone quarried near Caen, France, for use in building. [1375 1425; late ME] * * * Caen or caen stone «kahn; French kahn», a soft, cream colored building stone that hardens with exposure, found near… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Caen stone — a cream colored limestone quarried near Caen, France, for use in building. [1375 1425; late ME] * * * …   Universalium

  • Caen — French commune nomcommune=Caen Abbaye aux Hommes région=Basse Normandie département=Calvados arrondissement=Caen canton= insee=14118 cp=14000, 14300 gentilé=Caennais maire= Philippe Duron| mandat=2008 2014 intercomm=Caen la Mer longitude=… …   Wikipedia

  • Caen — /kahn/; Fr. /kahonn/, n. a city and the capital of Calvados, in NW France, SW of Le Havre: many Norman buildings destroyed 1944. 122,794. * * * Caen or caen stone «kahn; French kahn», a soft, cream colored building stone that hardens with… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Pierre de Caen — Église Saint Pierre, Caen. Pierre de Caen (Stein von Caen) ist der Name des in der Umgebung von Caen abgebauten hellen ockerfarbenen und oolithischen Kalksteins. In der Vergangenheit sind auch weitere Namen in Verwendung gewesen: Pierre d… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • List of decorative stone — Geographical list of stone used for decorative purposes in construction and sculpture; currently or historically produced in various countries.: * For generic petrological rock types, see: List of rock types Belgium *Limestone Canada *… …   Wikipedia

  • Jardin botanique de Caen — The Jardin botanique de Caen (5,000 m²), more formally known as Le jardin des plantes et le jardin botanique de Caen, is a botanical garden and arboretum located at 5, place Blot, Caen, Calvados, Basse Normandie, France. It is open daily.The… …   Wikipedia

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