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Fontevraud Abbey

Fontevraud Abbey is 13km southeast of Saumur, and gains its importance because both French and English monarchs are buried here.

The abbey was first established in 1099. Unusually it had both a nunnery and a monastery, and was under the command of an abbess (you can see pictures of many of the abbesses in the abbey). The idea was apparently a great success and several other abbeys were established on the same basis.

The abbey is one of the largest monastic complexes in Europe and construction whilst mostly in the 12th century has continued to the 20th. The highlight of the complex is the abbey church, a great space with plenty of character and interest despite its size (although a little over-restored) which contains also the tombstone effigies of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart.

Personally I liked the lovely Snow White style building which is the Romanesque kitchens and has lovely turretted rooves.

Don't miss also the carved doorway that passes through to the chapterhouse and the central interior cloister (though whilst I‘m usually a big fan of cloisters this one is a little too large and bare for my tastes).

Just before the French Revolution, Fontevraud was the most powerful abbey in France. It was transformed into a prison in 1804 and remained one until its close in 1963 (although the last prisoner apparently didn’t leave until 1985!)

The abbey is now home to a wide range of other cultural activities and exhibitions, and is a centre for medieval archaeology.

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Fontevraud Abbey: tourist information, map, travel plans and gites

Tombstone of Richard the Lionheart at the Abbeye de Fontevraud see more Photos of Fontevraud Abbey

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Places to visit - Fontevraud Abbey

Explore places within about 70 kilometres on a map at Visit Fontevraud Abbey.

Some of the closer places are listed below (distances from Fontevraud Abbey are approximate and direct - as the crow flies. Only places listed on the france this way site are shown!)

• Candes-Saint-Martin Most beautiful village at 7 km
• Chateau Chinon Chateau at 21 km
• Chateau de Saumur Chateau at 17 km
• Montsoreau Most beautiful village at 4 km
• Saumur Loire valley town at 16 km

 

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