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Saint-Jean d'Orbestier Abbey

Saint-Jean d'Orbestier Abbey

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Saint-Jean d'Orbestier Abbey

Recommended by 51 cyclists out of 54

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Location: Château-D'Olonne, Les Sables-D'Olonne, Pays de la Loire, France

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Top cycling routes to Saint-Jean d'Orbestier Abbey

3.4

(16)

riders

1. Les Sables-d'Olonne to Talmont — loop via the Puits d'Enfer and the EV1

39.8km

02:20

180m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.0

(5)

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2. Baie de Cayola – Puits d'Enfer loop from La Grande Maison

26.0km

01:34

150m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.0

(11)

riders

3. Puits d'Enfer – Anse de la Parée loop from Les Sables d'Olonne

28.3km

01:58

130m

Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

🕊️ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓

May 21, 2019

Currently under renovation

🕊️ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓

November 26, 2021

The former abbey of Saint-Jean Orbestier has become a center for cultural events, including modern art exhibitions. In 2007, an exhibition designed by the Heritage Unit marked the establishment of the abbey as an art center. 3.5 km south of Les Sables d'Olonne the Abbey stands facing the sea. The foundation of the Saint-Jean Orbestier Abbey dates from 1107. Nine centuries later it is still as imposing abbey church which has survived the Abandoning history, it is difficult to imagine how the Benedictine monks shaped the land and the local economy of this abbey. Their spiritual influence finally ceased in the 18th century.
In this place called "l'Orbestier" (from the Latin "the end of the world") the monks undertook the clearing of hundreds of hectares of land covered with forests, groves, shrubs and ponds. They were the benefactors of William IX and had the protection of Richard the Lionheart. It was on these hunting grounds of the lords of Talmont that the monks developed a farm with vineyards, salt marshes, mills, fisheries and other crops, these farms were entrusted to settlers and farmers.
In 1251, the first fire, the origin of which remains unknown, ravaged the monastery.
In 1340, the start of the Hundred Years' War, British troops set fire to the new abbey. Two centuries later, the wars of religion caused a third destruction in 1569 and 1570. Protestants and Catholics fought over land leading to fires, pillaging and confiscation of income and land. In the 17th and 18th centuries, despite different management styles and recovery efforts, the abbey declined with the abbey's owners, the diocese of Lucon declaring the permanent closure of the monastery in 1769.
For two centuries, the abbey experienced all the horrors of the time. During the Revolution, the abbey was sold as national property. Land and buildings are used for agricultural purposes.
The church was completely abandoned, and the roof collapsed in 1912. At the end of the Second World War, the French government bought the site. The Ministry of Education has set up a school. Which is still there today. The south facade of the building is very typical of Art Deco architecture of the 1930s. But the church, with all its neglect, threatened to be lost forever
The City and a handful of volunteers came together to form an association. Finally, the government was convinced to sell the town's abbey church in 1989. But it would take ten years and several work programs involving numerous partners to definitively save the building. The walls and roofs are now well restored. vendee-guide.co.uk/abbaye-st-jean-d%27orbestier.htm

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Elevation 20 m

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Wednesday 12 November

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Max wind speed: 27.0 km/h

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See rides here

Take Me There

Location: Château-D'Olonne, Les Sables-D'Olonne, Pays de la Loire, France

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Route to the Ocean

Saint-Jean d'Orbestier Abbey

1. Les Sables-d'Olonne to Talmont — loop via the Puits d'Enfer and the EV1

2. Baie de Cayola – Puits d'Enfer loop from La Grande Maison

3. Puits d'Enfer – Anse de la Parée loop from Les Sables d'Olonne

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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