On the borders of Anjou, Poitou and Touraine, Fontevraud is home to one of the largest monastic cities in Europe: its royal abbey, a Plantagenet necropolis, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site along with the Loire Valley. Here are the sights not to miss.
Looking for things to do in Fontevraud, places to visit near Fontevraud or an idea for a day out this weekend? Here is a selection of the finest sights to see, all explorable directly on the interactive map.
Open Fontevraud on the interactive mapFounded in 1101 by Robert of Arbrissel, this abbey is the largest monastic city surviving from the Middle Ages. Turned into a prison by Napoleon until 1963, it is now a cultural meeting centre.
See on the map →At the heart of the abbey church lie the effigies of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II Plantagenet and Richard the Lionheart, witnesses to the power of the Angevin dynasty.
See on the map →For seven centuries, this elegant cloister was the heart of life for the high-ranking nuns who governed the abbey, led by an abbess despite the presence of monks.
See on the map →These 12th-century Romanesque kitchens, bristling with chimneys, rank among the rare surviving examples in Europe. An architectural feat not to be missed.
See on the map →At the heart of the village, this artisan soap works carries on a traditional craft, a pleasant stop after visiting the abbey.
See on the map →Around the abbey, a small white-stone village invites a leisurely stroll through its peaceful lanes, typical of the villages of the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley.
See on the map →Find these places and hundreds more — restaurants, places to stay, activities — on the BornToVisit interactive map. Filter by theme, find things to do around you and plan your outing.
Explore the map of Fontevraud →