The architectural complex was founded in the 11th century and consists of a church, conventual buildings, a refectory, a cloister, a garden, and a cemetery.

The Abbey is situated in the estuary of the River Seine between the historical center of Le Havre and the town of Harfleur.

Its history goes back to the end of the Merovingian epoch[1] in the middle of the 6th century, when hermits were living in the cliffs.

Around that time, the hermits were also joined by the Augustines from the monastery of Sainte Barbe, thus contributing to the establishment of a christian community in Graville.

Finally, the Abbey was founded in the 11th century, supposedly in 1203, by Guillaume Mallet, a companion of William the Conqueror, right after his return from the battle of Hastings.

According to the legend, Honorine of Melamare was martyred by the pagans of Lillebonnen in 303, burned in Tancarville, and thrown into the water of the Seine River.

[3] According to the researchers, most probably in the 6th century the relics of Saint Honorine were sent from the Cathedral of Bayeux to Graville due to the threat of Normand invasion from the west.

According to Abbot Cochet,[4] an archaeologist and historian of the 19th century, the sarcophagus could have been built at the end of the Roman period or at the start of the Merovingian epoch.

Later, due to frequent invasions by the Vikings[5] in the region throughout the 9th century, the relics were transferred to Conflans-Sainte-Honorine in 989, nevertheless, the sarcophagus was preserved at the Abbey and can be still found in the church to the left from the altarpiece.

Even though the body of the saint was no longer kept at the Abbey, the sarcophagus has remained an attraction for pilgrims since the Middle Ages.

The two-story crossing tower (now the belfry) rests on a square and is decorated with domed windows, zigzag patterns, and recessed stars.

[8] The retablo includes columns decorated with grape vines and birds, which symbolize the Eucharist and life.

In the conventual building at the museum, a collection of architectural models created by Jules Gosselin is on display.

These models are especially valuable since they depict the typical architecture of different regions and provide historically accurate representation of various types of buildings.

The Association of Christian Mothers[9] (under Madame Foache) vowed to erect a statue of the Virgin in gratitude for the city not being invaded.

The name of the statue comes from its dark patina, as the bronze was not covered with a layer of silver due to a lack of financial means.

During the Second World War, the statue was severely damaged; thus, a new identical one was cast and erected in the same place in 1985, funded by the citizens and the City of Le Havre.