Abbaye Royale De Fontevraud
About
The Royal Abbey of Our Lady of Fontevraud, founded in 1101 by the itinerant preacher Robert of Arbrissel, stands as France’s largest monastic city from the Middle Ages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in the Loire Valley, the abbey’s distinctive double monastic order—where both monks and nuns lived under the authority of an abbess—became a powerful spiritual center and attracted the patronage of the Plantagenet kings. After centuries as a religious community, the abbey endured a transformation during the French Revolution into a harsh prison, before returning to the public eye in 1975 as a cultural centre and museum. Today visitors can explore the imposing church, cloisters, chapter house and a range of historical artefacts, including the effigies of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart.
Highlights
- Royal Abbey Church
- Cloister
- Chapter House
Must-See Areas
Good to Know
Good for
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October, when the climate is mild and crowds are thinner.
At a glance
- Typical visit: about 3 hours