Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France Fontevraud-l'Abbaye Fontevraud Abbey

Fontevraud Abbey

Guests can stay at a hotel in the former French abbey where lie the tombs of King Henry II and King Richard the Lionheart.

Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, France

Added By
Diviciac
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Tomb of Richard I of England (front) and Isabella of Angoulême (back)   AYArktos/Public Domain
Tomb effigies of Eleanor and Henry II at Fontevraud Abbey   ElanorGamgee - Fontevraud/CC By 3.0
West facade of the church   By Jean-Christophe BENOIST - Own work/CC BY 3.0
Aerial view of the abbey   Pierre Mairé, PixAile.com - www.pixAile.com/CC BY 2.5
Cloître du Grand-Moûtier   By Jean-Christophe BENOIST - Own work/CC BY 3.0
General wiew of the chapterhouse of Fontevraud Abbey   Coyau/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0
Another view of the abbey   Aurore Defferriere/CC BY-SA 3.0
Entrance to the chapter house   Jean-Christophe BENOIST - Own work/CC BY-SA 3.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Founded in 1100 as a double monastery where monks and nuns lived side by side, this expansive abbey in France is the unlikely home of the tomb of one of the most legendary English kings, Richard the Lionheart.

In the 12th century, Fontevraud Abbey was located in an area of France that was then in the possession of the King of England, and the British rulers of the time were great benefactors of the abbey. Eleanor of Aquitaine made Fontevraud Abbey her place of residence following the deaths of her husband, King Henry II, and son, the legendary King Richard the Lionheart, and all three were buried at the abbey, as were several other British royals.

However although Fontevraud Abbey was once the resting place of the royal remains, it is believed the bodies were destroyed during the French Revolution (King Richard’s heart and entrails were buried separately, at Rouen and Châlus respectively). The tombs themselves remain in the abbey church, though, and can be visited. Their carved effigies lie together for viewing, surrounded by a protective railing. Eleanor can be seen to be enjoying a book in her death.

Construction of the Romanesque structures of the abbey, which today remain architectural marvels, started in 1110, and additions continued throughout the 12th century. It has been rebuilt and restored over the years and served a variety of functions. After a steady decline over centuries, the order was finally dispersed in the late 18th century, during the French Revolution. In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte made it a prison, a shift that resulted in the structure’s preservation, though adjustments had to be made to increase the number of prisoners it could hold. It remained a prison until 1963.

The French Ministry of Culture has since transformed the abbey into a cultural hub that hosts conferences, concerts, and artists in residence, and even includes a hotel and restaurant.

Related Tags

History Tombs Unesco Churches Architecture Medieval Sacred Spaces

Community Contributors

Added By

Diviciac

Edited By

Blindcolour, AaronNetsky

  • Blindcolour
  • AaronNetsky

Published

March 13, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontevraud_Abbey#Suppression
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_I_of_England#Later_years_and_death
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine#Widowhood
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Plantagenet
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_of_Arbrissel
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angevin_Empire
  • http://loire-chateaux.co.uk/en-gb/chateaux/fontevraud/essentials-1
  • http://www.fontevraud.fr/en/
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-21609783
Fontevraud Abbey
38 Rue Saint-Jean de l'Habit
Fontevraud-l'Abbaye
France
47.181071, 0.052281
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Parcours Troglodytique

Souzay-Champigny, France

miles away

Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers

Les Trois-Moutiers, France

miles away

Dolmen de Bagneux

Saumur, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 692
Stories 74

Nearby Places

Parcours Troglodytique

Souzay-Champigny, France

miles away

Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers

Les Trois-Moutiers, France

miles away

Dolmen de Bagneux

Saumur, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 692
Stories 74

Related Places

  • Gloria Dei Old Swedes Church.

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Gloria Dei Old Swedes' Episcopal Church

    The oldest active church in Pennsylvania is also the second oldest Swedish Church in the United States.

  • Haarlem’s Big Church.

    Haarlem, Netherlands

    Grote Kerk

    This towering church is home to a world-famous organ and a treasure trove of medieval art.

  • Cathedral of St. Demetrius.

    Vladimir, Russia

    Cathedral of Saint Demetrius

    Thousands of biblical and pagan images are carved into this small 12th-century church.

  • The Gothic church towers above the Old Town.

    Brașov, Romania

    Biserica Neagră (The Black Church)

    A fire once nearly devoured this gorgeous 14th-century Gothic cathedral.

  • The medieval Church of Saint Nicholas.

    Ireland

    The Lost Town of Newtown Jerpoint (Jerpoint Park)

    Local legend says the remains of Father Christmas lie within the medieval grounds.

  • The courtyard in the main complex.

    Tatev, Armenia

    Gavazan Column at Tatev Monastery

    Centuries before the modern seismograph, Armenian monks measured quakes with this tilting pillar.

  • Karja Church

    Linnaka, Estonia

    Karja Church

    Inside this medieval church resides a unique set of murals.

  • Looking up from the bottom of the hill.

    Minot, North Dakota

    Gol Stave Church Museum

    This museum is a full-size replica of an original church constructed during the 13th-century.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.