A Gothic treasure in the Bray region

The history of Sigy-en-Bray Abbey is closely linked to the family of the lords of La Ferté, descendants of the lords of Gournay. Hugues the 1st founded the monastery around 1040 and gave it the name of Saint Martin and Saint Vulgain. Hugues the 2nd, who became a monk at Saint-Ouen in Rouen, donated it to this prestigious house. As a result, the abbey became a simple priory. The monastery’s first church, most likely burned down during the 12th century, has not been preserved. The church we admire today, placed on the edge of fields, on an embankment overlooking the Andelle River, is remarkable for its Gothic white stone apse: a rare material in the Bray region. Inside, the choir and the transept are generously lit by the high lancet arches of the windows, which contribute to the elegance of the monument. This part of the edifice forms a contrast with the nave, a massive construction lacking any decoration.

The church houses several high-quality works of art: baptismal fonts from the 15^th century, a Man of Sorrows made of polychromatic rock and a Crucifixion from the 17^th century. Outside, one can find, along the south wall, a curious horse head made of rock, and on the façade’s corner stone, engraved graffiti, mostly representing crosses.