Cultural Center
Abbey Church at Fontevrault
The first permanent structures were built between 1110 and
1119. The abbey was a double monastery, which means that both monks and nuns
occupied the same site. The Order of Fontevrault became an international
success, with monasteries throughout Europe. In the early years the
Plantagenets were benefactors of the abbey and while Isabella d'Anjou was
abbess, Henry II's wife Eleanor of Aquitaine became a nun here, as later did
her daughter, Jeanne of England.
The abbey became a prison from 1804 to 1963, including the
war years. The plaque on the right reads "In this abbey, converted into a
prison, members of the Resistance were incarcerated from 1940 to 1944 for
fighting against Nazism. 14 died of ill treatment, 10 were shot and hundreds
deported to concentration camps experienced the horror of Nazi barbarism. Do
not forget them". In 1963 the abbey was given to the French Ministry of
Culture.
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