In the Seine Valley, the Abbey Route leads to buildings that are part of the Seine-Maritime region?s religious heritage, such as the Église Saint-Valentin de Jumièges, situated at the top of a gently sloping hill.
The history of this church is linked to that of Jumièges Abbey. It is a parish church built at the request of the monks of the Abbey, who no longer wished to be disturbed by parishioners... From the outset, this parish church was placed under the protection of the Abbey.

Built in the 11th and 12th centuries near the Abbey, it is dedicated to Saint Valentine. The church bears witness to the evolution of architecture and styles. All that remains of the original Romanesque plan is the central nave flanked by two aisles, two transept pillars and part of the lantern tower.
In the 16th century, the Romanesque portal was altered and the choir rebuilt in Renaissance style with nine bays. Also in the choir and in the southern chapel, a remarkable collection of stained glass windows covers the art of stained glass from the 14th to 16th centuries. Scenes are inspired by the Old and New Testaments. Many of the stained glass windows come from the Abbey, and more specifically from Saint-Pierre church.

At the same time, the church was enlarged with a twelve-bay ambulatory opening onto eight radiating chapels. The furnishings and decorations come from the Abbey. These include a 15th/16th-century statue of Saint-Etienne as a deacon, and another in polychrome oak depicting the theme of Ecce homo. Numerous other polychrome statues also adorn the building, including the emblematic Saint-Valentin, patron saint of the church. A number of ex-voto statues hang in the church, testifying to the importance of Jumièges? river activity in the days when there was a port. More confidential, but in the same spirit, on the choir walls outside, these ex-votos can take the form of graffiti.

During the French Revolution, unlike the Abbey, the building escaped destruction and remained preserved as a parish church. For all these reasons, the Church of Saint-Valentin de Jumièges was listed as a Monument Historique in 1918. The stained-glass windows were listed again in 1978.

From the promontory where Saint-Valentin Church stands, admire the view of Notre Dame Abbey and its two great towers that pierce the sky. Then explore the abbey route along the Seine