Le Bec-Hellouin () is a commune in the department of

Eure Eure ( ; ; or ) is a department in the administrative region of Normandy, northwestern France, named after the river Eure. Its prefecture is Évreux. In 2021, Eure had a population of 598,934.Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...

in northern

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. It is best known for

Bec Abbey Bec Abbey, formally the Abbey of Our Lady of Bec (), is a Benedictine monastic foundation in the Eure ''département'', in the Bec valley midway between the cities of Rouen and Bernay. It is located in Le Bec Hellouin, Normandy, France, and was ...

and has recently been voted one of the " most beautiful villages of France". The current mayor is Pascal Finet who replaced Jean-Paul Vittecoq in 2014.

Geography

The commune along with another 69 communes shares part of a 4,747 hectare,

Natura 2000 Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, respectiv ...

conservation area, called

Risle, Guiel, Charentonne Risle, Guiel, Charentonne is a Natura 2000 site around the rivers and valleys of the Risle, Charentonne, Guiel and their tributaries and valleys of these rivers. Geography The area is 4,747 hectares in size and is mostly within the Eure departm ...

History

was founded in 1034 by Herluin, who was a knight at the court of

Brionne Brionne () is a commune in the Eure department. Brionne is in the region of Normandy of northern France. Geography The commune along with another 69 communes shares part of a 4,747 hectare, Natura 2000 conservation area, called Risle, Guiel ...

and a

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

. Near to the abbey, in the village, the church, dedicated to Saint-André, was built in 1039. The original church burned down in 1264. It was rebuilt but damaged during the

Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a conflict between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France and a civil war in France during the Late Middle Ages. It emerged from feudal disputes over the Duchy ...

(1417). The nave and the bell tower were reconstructed in the 18th century. In 1791 the abbey was closed because of the French Revolution and the departing monks transferred many statues to the village church; even the tomb of Herluin was moved to the church in 1792. From 1792 to 1794 bells and valuable decorative objects were removed from the church and finally brought to Bernay. The windows of the church were destroyed during the bombing of Le Bec-Hellouin on 13 August 1944, in the course of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The new windows were made in 1959. The Benedictine monks returned in 1948 and the tomb of Herluin was moved back to the abbey in 1959. Normandie Eure Bec1

Etymology

Known as Beccensis Ecclesia in 1041 and in Beccus Herlevini 1160. The village takes its name from the Scandinavian word for creek mouth (bekkr). While Hellouin refers to Blessed Herluin, founder of the nearby abbey. whose name is of Germanic origin.François de Beaurepaire (préf. Marcel Baudot), Les Noms des communes et anciennes paroisses de l'Eure, (Paris, A. et J. Picard, 1981), p.221.

Notable people

Arnost,

bishop of Rochester The Bishop of Rochester is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury. The town of Rochester, Kent, Rochester has the bishop's seat, at the Rochester Cathedral, Cathedral Chur ...

, England, 1076

Landmarks

Abbey of Bec-Hellouin Bec Abbey, formally the Abbey of Our Lady of Bec (), is a Benedictine monastic foundation in the Eure ''département'', in the Bec valley midway between the cities of Rouen and Bernay. It is located in Le Bec Hellouin, Normandy, France, and was ...

. *Monastery of Saint Francesca Romana *St. Andrew's Church *The village has a set of typical half-timbered houses, grouped around the Abbey Our Lady of Bec. File:Map commune FR insee code 27052.png, Map of Le Bec-Hellouin File:Mairie Le Bec-Hellouin.jpg, Town hall File:La villa de Le Bec-Hellouin en 2018.jpg, Rue du Quartier Burcy in the village of Le Bec-Hellouin File:Le_Bec-Hellouin_R06.jpg, Half-timbered houses File:Église Saint-André le Bec-Hellouin.jpg, Church of St Andrews File:Le_Bec-Hellouin_Eglise_StAndré_R01.jpg, Church of St Andrews from the east File:Eglise de l'abbaye Notre-Dame du Bec-DSC.jpg, Church in abbaye Notre-Dame du Bec File:AbbayeduBec-arbres.jpg, Bec Abbey File:Abbaye_Notre-Dame_du_Bec_R01.jpg, Bec Abbey File:Abbaye du Bec - Tour S Nicolas.jpg, West side of the Tour Saint-Nicolas, between the ancient pottery to its left and the monks' residential building to its right File:Abbaye du Bec-Hellouin - Pano façade sud.jpg, Southern façade of the abbey File:Abbaye du Bec-Hellouin - Le cloître.jpg, The cloister File:Abbaye du Bec-Hellouin - Bibliothèque.jpg, Bec Abbey Library

Population

References

External links

Official site

Site for Bec Abbey
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bechellouin Communes of Eure Plus Beaux Villages de France