Fontevraud Abbey

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Fontevraud Abbey Chapel.

Tomb of Richard I of England and Isabella of Angoulême (at back)

Courtyard inside Fontevraud Abbey.

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Fontevraud Abbey

Fontevraud Abbey (or Fontevrault Abbey) is located in the village of Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, near Chinon, in Anjou, France. It was constructed between 1110 and 1119 and founded by Robert of Arbrissel who had just created a new order, the Order of Fontevrault.

1 History
2 Features
3 Miscellaneous
4 External links

[edit] History

The abbey was a double monastery, with both monks and nuns on the same site. The order became an international success. There were several "Fontevrist" abbeys set up in England. Robert of Arbrissel declared that the leader of the order should always be a woman and appointed Petronille de Chemillé as the first abbess. She was succeeded by Isabella d'Anjou, the aunt of Henry II of England. This was the start of a position that attracted many rich and noble abbesses over the years, including members of the French Bourbon royal family. Louise de Bourbon left her crest on many of the alterations she made during her term of office. In the early years the Plantagenets were great benefactors of the abbey and while Isabella d'Anjou was abbess, Henry II's wife Eleanor of Aquitaine became a nun there. During the French Revolution, the order was dissolved. The last abbess, Madame d'Antin, died in poverty in Paris. On 17 August, 1792, a Revolutionary decree ordered evacuation of all monasteries, to be completed by 1 October, 1792. The abbey later became a prison from 1804 to 1963, in which year it was given to the French Ministry of Culture. The restoration of the Abbey-Church was finished approximately in 1906 and its architect was Lucien Magne.

[edit] Features

The abbey contains the tombs of King Henry II of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, their son King Richard I of England, their daughter Joan, their grandson Raymond VII of Toulouse, and Isabella of Angoulême, wife of their son King John.