2025 Fontevraud L'Abbaye Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in June)

#europetrip The French villages are truly a feast for the senses, offering visitors an unparalleled blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Many are steeped in centuries of tradition, with winding streets that tell the story of their past. The charming village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence in the French Riviera is known for its vibrant art scene, while Alsace’s colorful villages like Colmar boast half-timbered houses and fairy-tale architecture. In the heart of Burgundy, you’ll find wine villages like Beaune, surrounded by lush vineyards. Whether exploring the lavender fields of Provence or the hilltop villages of the Dordogne, these quaint destinations leave a lasting impression.

Recommend a short holiday hotel suitable for friends and family trips, Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, 3 hours drive from Paris This is a resort hotel built in a monastery. It is located in the Loire Valley region, close to the cities of Le Mans, Angers and Tours. There is a national natural park and many historical buildings near the hotel, and the natural scenery is very nice. The hotel is very design-conscious, with modern facilities and a simple and retro style, exuding the atmosphere of a historic monastery. It is really comfortable to stay in the hotel for a few days. It is very relaxing and the air and environment are great. 38 Rue Saint-Jean de |'Habit,49590 Fontevraud-I'Abbaye By the way, the Loire Valley region has a world-famous group of medieval castles, so you can visit nearby castles during the day. I remember the local uncle specifically recommended Ussé Castle to us. Château d'Ussé, he said enthusiastically and excitedly: "You know Sleeping Beauty, Sleeping Beauty, there was a writer who wrote Sleeping Beauty based on the inspiration of this castle." You can also eat fresh and delicious oysters at the market here. I personally don’t like eating oysters, but the oysters here are big, fresh and cost-effective.

Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud is one of the largest monasteries in Europe. It is the cemetery of the Plantagenet royal family. The monastery houses the colorful reclining statues of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard Coeur de Lion. This monastery first appeared in 1101 and is a branch of the Benedictines. Since the area belonged to the Count of Anjou in the Loire River Basin, and the Count was the Duke of Normandy in France for a long time and then became the King of England, the monastery became the most important religious institution in the King of England's territory at that time. In the 12th century, King Henry II of England married Alienor, the Duchess of Aquitaine, who was divorced from the King of France, and thus expanded the British royal family's territory in France. At the same time, Henry II and Alienor attached great importance to this monastery and sent the prince and princess to receive education. Henry II of the Plantagenet dynasty of England, Alienor, and their son, the famous King Richard the Lionheart, were all buried in this monastery after their death. Later, the French royal family and nobles also paid attention to and supported this monastery. However, the monastery was destroyed during the French Revolution, and Napoleon turned it into a prison, thus preserving the complex of buildings. It was not until the 20th century that the monastery became a historical attraction again. The overall architecture of the monastery is mainly in the Renaissance style, but there are also Romanesque, Gothic and other styles. In particular, the Byzantine-style large kitchen built in the 12th century is particularly grand and magnificent in appearance. The church, cloister, restaurant, accommodation area, bakery and steel plant together perfectly interpret the ideal of self-sufficiency of the early Cistercian monks.