May 4, 2025, 7:43 a.m. | Reading time: 4 minutes
Founded more than 900 years ago, the Abbey of Fontevrault in France's Loire Valley is the largest complex of its kind in Europe. Revolutionary for their time, religious men and women once lived together on the huge property. As a cultural melting pot, it was also an important link in the politics between France and the rest of Europe. Today it is still the final resting place of numerous monarchs - including that of a legendary English king.
Not far from the town of Saumur, located in the Loire Valley in northwestern France, is one of the most impressive monastic complexes in all of Europe. Fontevrault Abbey is not only one of the oldest, but also the largest on the entire continent. Founded more than 900 years ago, it stood for a concept that was revolutionary at the time. On the huge property, male and female believers lived spatially separated, but still together. And in other respects too, the complex, which encompassed several monasteries, achieved unprecedented pioneering status. And finally, the complex, which is now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also played an important role in European politics.
According to the Travel France website, the history of Fontevrault Abbey dates back to 1101. In that year, the French itinerant preacher Robert d'Abrissel founded it as a Benedictine religious house. What was unheard of at the time was the fact that Robert gathered under his protection both monks and nuns, who formed an unusual religious community on the abbey's many hectares of land. Even more revolutionary: Robert gave overall management of Fontevrault to a woman named Hersendis of Champagne. She and her successors oversaw the fortunes of the complex, which included a total of four different monasteries.
From the abbey to the prison
The spiritual leaders, who often came from noble families, were elected in a democratic process. In this way, Fontevrault also secured the money needed for maintenance, which these women literally brought with them. Particularly under the influence of Gabrielle de Rochechouart de Mortemart, the abbey flourished in the 17th century, when it became an important intellectual and cultural center. The members of the order came from all over Europe, for example England and Spain. Fontevrault was always an important political link between the states and was under the protection of the French crown. Four daughters of the Sun King Louis XIV alone visited the abbey.
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Plundered by Protestant Huguenots in 1562, Fontevrault experienced its darkest hour in 1804. Already after the French Revolution, the new ruler Napoleon expropriated the abbey in 1792. Eventually he had it converted into one of the largest and toughest prisons in the country. It remained in this role until 1963, while the once proud complex continued to fall into disrepair. After extensive renovation work, it now shines back to its former glory and attracts countless tourists every year. Many of them probably come not just because of the magnificent complex itself. But because a legendary king is buried here.
The tomb of a legendary king
In fact, several leaders found their final resting place in Fontevrault, but none is perhaps as famous as Richard I, better known as Richard the Lionheart. His parents, King Henry II and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, are also buried in the abbey church. Life-size stone sculptures still commemorate them today. In 1975 the abbey reopened its doors to visitors for the first time. In 2000 it, like the Loire Valley in which it is located, was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, exhibitions, concerts and conferences also take place regularly on the site. There is also now a hotel in part of the complex.
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If you would like to see Fontevrault Abbey for yourself, you have the opportunity to do so all year round. However, as opening times vary, please check the official website beforehand. Entrance to the monastery complex currently costs 13 euros for adults. If you also want to visit the museum, you pay 17 euros. A surcharge of five euros must be paid for a guided tour. Children under 18 and students up to 25 years of age do not have to pay.
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