Fontevraud Abbey

Fontevraud Abbey, founded in 1101 by itinerant reforming preacher Robert d'Arbrissel followed his concept of the "ideal city". It was a "double monastery", that was always led by a woman.

From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet. The list of the abbesses is like a "who is who" of the medieval nobility.

Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political power game in 1200. She died here in 1204. This church was the chosen burial place for the House of Plantagenet.

The convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution.

In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey (once model of the "ideal city") into a prison. Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". The prisoners had to work here. Textiles were manufactured in large scale, looms stood probably everywhere. Mechanisation started early, a first steam engine worked here already in 1839.

Many thousands of desperate men, women and children were imprisoned here. Prisoners lived (and died) here over more than 150 years. All walls of the abbey are covered with carved names and dates. Signs of life!

Officially the abbey was a prison upto 1963, but the last prisoner left Fontevraud in 1983. By the way - the Abbey of Clairvaux had the same fate - and still is a prison.