Royal Abbey of Fontevraud

The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud is one of the largest monastic communities in Europe dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a place with a rich history, located in the heart of the Loire Valley and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The abbey is a unique cultural site!
An abbey with a royal destination, a formidable prison is today a place of creation (museum of modern art).

The abbey was founded in 1100 by Robert of Arbrissel. Both men and women were admitted. The abbey quickly became the largest community of contemplative nuns in Europe. The order was under the protection and generosity of the noble and royal families. In the 12th century, Eleanor of Aquitaine made the Abbey of Fontevraud the burial place of the queens and kings of England.