The ancient Monasterii Villare, which gave its name to the town, was one of the great monastic foundations of the 7th century in the lower Seine valley.
Saint Philibert, founder of Jumièges, established a female monastery here in 684. Destroyed by the Vikings in 850, it was restored in 1035 by Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, who granted it numerous privileges. The abbey prospered as a result, and in the second half of the 11th century began to build a large abbey church.
The abbey, whose construction continued until the 16th century, bears witness to the evolution of Norman architecture and sculpture. Montivilliers has earned its nickname of “city of abbesses”.
From its medieval splendor, the town has preserved a rich architectural and religious heritage, starting with the buildings of the former abbey, now listed as historic monuments and fully restored.
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