On the opposite side of Caen (merely 5 minutes away by car) is Abbaye Aux Dames, founded by queen Matilde, wife of William the Conqueror. The abbey was founded in 1059, but the only part of it that still is preserved as it once was is the Romanesque "La Trinite" church that is located outside of the abbey gates. The abbey is a large building with a tall bell tower in the square and the abbey building from the 17th or 18th century, with a small moat in which you can see the building’s reflection. In front is a large garden/park with several exotic trees overlooking the city from the hill.
Only guided visits are allowed inside the abbey every day at 2:30pm and 4pm. The church of Trinity, however, can be visited on your own. The church is a wonderful example of Romanesque/early Gothic. It is made of limestone that Caen is so famous for. Inside it is very bright, with lots of light going through the windows--some with modern stained-glass, some without--and very simple décor with a variety of Romanesque arches, small and large, supported by columns at various levels. Queen Matilde is buried in the altar. From the outside, the view is just breathtaking. It has a beautiful façade with circular arches of ornaments ending in two symmetrical square-shaped bell towers, also made up of Romanesque arches all the way to the top, with galleries at the top visited now only by pigeons.
Tourist guidebooks also recommend a visit to the Church of St Pierre, but you can only see its striking façade with Gothic spires opposite the Chateau. The Church of St Pierre is under restoration.
The Church of St Jean, on the other hand, is open for visits. The church was the only remaining building in the quarter of St Jean after the bombing in July 1944. Now you can see a beautiful Gothic church with modern stained-glass, limestone, and large painted arches that were almost entirely destroyed during WWII and restored since. It has a beautiful façade with Gothic windows and arches, and inside, above the altar, the tall cupola is decorated with plaster artwork in the shape of leaves. The west façade is rather simple, with very few arches ending in a tall bell tower with narrow arched windows.