Kérity - Abbaye de Beauport

Beauport Abbey is located in the village of Kérity, now part of Paimpol. It was founded in 1202 by the Count of Penthièvre and settled by Premonstratensians (= "Norbertines") coming from the Normandy. The (still existing) order was founded around 1120 by Norbert de Xanten and it was a fast growing order. In the early 13th century about 600 Premonstratensian monasteries existed between Cyprus and Sweden.

The abbey did well for the first centuries but declined later. In 1532 the abbey became a prebend for a titular abbot, later the the Archbishop of Tours. The French Revolution ended any monastic life here in 1790. The buildings were sold.

When Prosper Mérimée inspected the ruined buildings in 1836, some roofs had already collapsed. In 1862 the former abbey was classified as a historic monument, what ended the looting of the buildings, of which some are restored and used now.

The ruins of the early Gothic abbey church.