Founded in 1101 at the borders of the provinces of Anjou, Poitou and Touraine, the royal abbey of Fontevraud is the largest monastic city inherited from the Middle AgesIt owes its power in particular to Plantagenet and his close ties with Eleanor of Aquitaine, an emblematic figure of this mysterious place. The Queen of France and later of England maintained a special relationship with the city and drew closer to it to manage the affairs of the kingdom after the death of her husband, Henry II Plantagenet. Her lying her throne still rests today in the heart of the abbey church alongside those of her husband and son, Richard the Lionheart. More than any other place, theThe Royal Abbey of Fontevraud is today recognized as the necropolis of the dynasty that reigned in England from 1154 to 1485..
The abbey was conceived from its inception as athe "very singular foundation" by its founder Robert d'Arbrissel, an itinerant preacher, advocate for the poor, and demanding reformer. It distinguishes itself from other religious institutions by having always been headed by abbesses (36 have succeeded one another)But the history of Fontevraud extends far beyond the religious sphere. A favorite of kings, For seven centuries it hosted numerous nobles of royal blood before the Revolution expelled all the monks and nuns. From 1804, Napoleon I transformed Fontevraud into one of the harshest prisons in France, a role it retained until 1963. The prison complex initially housed men, women, and children. It also generated significant economic activity through the manufacture of buttons, gloves, chairs, nets, and blankets for the army. The prisoners also worked in textile production. While the prison officially closed in 1963, the last prisoners did not leave until 1985 after participating in the massive restoration project.
Listed as a historical monument since 1840The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud was one of the first French buildings to receive this classification. Since 2000, it has also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Loire Valley, a way of continuing the ambition of an ideal city envisioned by its founder. 14 hectares : They welcome visitors, artists in residence, and conference attendees daily. History continues to unfold at Fontevraud with the recent creation of a Museum of Modern Art dedicated to exhibiting the works from the Martine & Léon Cligman donation. Having become a city in the truest sense of the word, the abbey also offers a restaurant and hotel, in addition to being a vibrant venue for artistic and theatrical performances and creation.
- Continue your exploration of the Loire Valley with the circuit Castles to discover near Saumur which includes the royal abbey of Fontevraud.
