Jumièges Abbey

Normandie · France · Monastery

In the abbey ruins by the Seine, the maimed royal sons known as 'les Énervés' are said to drift through the moonlight.

The vast ruined abbey of Jumièges is often called the most beautiful in France – but its most famous legend is a cruel one. King Clovis II allegedly had the tendons of his rebellious sons' heels seared, then set them adrift on a raft down the Seine, where the monks of Jumièges took them in. They were buried at the abbey, and the 'Énervés' have counted among its restless figures ever since. Visitors also tell of monkish shapes glimpsed between the roofless white towers at dusk.

FAQ

Where is Jumièges Abbey located?

Jumièges Abbey is in Normandie, France.

Image: Franz Golhen / Public domain — Wikimedia Commons