From the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud to the Château de Brissac , between wine tasting in the vineyard villages and an unusual dive into the troglodyte dwellings of the Bioparc – Zoo de Doué-la-Fontaine , along the Loire à Vélo or in the mysteries of the Faluns , Anjou will seduce you!
The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud
An essential stop in the Saumur region, the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud is one of the largest monastic cities in Europe, which houses the necropolis of the Plantagenet dynasty (Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart…).
Founded in 1101, the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, located in the Pays de la Loire region, is the largest monastic complex inherited from the Middle Ages. Completely restored, the site now brings its rich heritage to life through a multidisciplinary cultural program and numerous digital installations.
To create an "ideal city." This was the vision of Robert of Arbrissel when he founded the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud in the 12th century. For 700 years, it housed a mixed religious community, composed of nobles of royal blood and led by an abbess. Thanks to the will of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of France and later of England, who was an emblematic figure of Fontevraud, the abbey also became the royal necropolis of the Plantagenet dynasty, whose effigies can still be admired today.
In 1804, Fontevraud was transformed into a prison on the orders of Napoleon, a function it retained until 1963 before major restoration work was undertaken.
A living heritage
Today, Fontevraud Abbey brings its illustrious past to life through a rich cultural program. Starting July 13, rediscover the defining moments in the lives of Eleanor of Aquitaine and members of the Plantagenet dynasty through four immersive experiences where reality and virtuality merge.
Explore the Abbey and search for four QR codes to scan with your smartphone or tablet. A superimposed reality technology will then immerse you in the lives of influential figures who shaped the history of France and England.
A unique opportunity to travel through time like never before:
- 1. The awakening of the recumbent figures : A dynasty, an empire, the Plantagenets in the Middle Ages at Fontevraud
- 2. A powerful woman : The alliances of a strong-willed queen
- 3. From Abbey to Necropolis : A Royal Burial Place, the Plantagenet Influence
- 4. An enlightened queen : Eleanor, woman of letters and patron of the arts
Cultural season
Programming of the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud
Stone and Light
Beauty: inside or outside? At the very heart of their building material, tuffeau, the most beautiful monuments of the Loire Valley have been meticulously sculpted, to scale, in this miniature park: a hymn to beauty and to the work of the builders.
A few meters underground in Saumur , you can discover an unusual miniature park: in a former troglodytic quarry, a sculptor has meticulously recreated monuments of the Loire Valley in stone. Each work is an ode to beauty and the craftsmanship of the builders.
This unique exhibition is the work of Breton sculptor Philippe Cormand. In total, it took him three years to complete all these reproductions with their meticulous detail.
The visitor's path leads through some twenty locations sculpted down to the smallest detail, sometimes directly into the rock face. It's an educational and artistic experience for all audiences, offering a fresh perspective on the architectural heritage of Anjou and Touraine.