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Abbaye Royale

11 centuries of history under the open sky. Take a guided tour of the gardens, boiler room, chapter house and refectory. Beaches of the southern Vendée and the hinterland.

Address :
1, Place de l'Abbaye
85580 SAINT-MICHEL-EN-L'HERM
FRANCE

Contact: Abbaye Royale

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Presentation of: Abbaye Royale

The abbey was founded in 682 AD on a limestone islet. Following the Concordat of 1516, it became a royal abbey. A journey through time and the birth of the Marais Poitevin.

11 CENTURIES OF HISTORY UNDER THE OPEN SKY!

In 682, at the request of the Bishop of Poitiers, Ansoald, monks from Noirmoutier came to build the abbey of Saint Michel en l'Herm on one of the limestone islets in the Gulf of Pictons.

It suffered Viking invasions and was destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries. As a Benedictine abbey, it had a rich and eventful history, with alternating periods of misfortune and prosperity, due in particular to the draining work undertaken by the monks on the surrounding marshes and the generosity of Savary de Mauléon, a leading Poitou figure, who turned it into a fortress.

It became a Royal Abbey after the Concordat signed in 1516, and was headed by a number of high dignitaries, including Cardinal Mazarin. But troubled times plunged the abbey into decline, despite the presence of monks from the congregation of St Maur.

No monks lived there after the French Revolution. In 1818, it became private property and has now been in the family for two centuries.

But through the gardens, the chauffoir, the chapter house and the refectory, you can approach history and take a journey back in time to the birth of the Marais Poitevin.

Guided tours only to discover the eventful history of the abbey.

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Site theme
Abbey
Site category
Registered and listed sites
Architectural style of the site
Gothic
Romanesque
Prices
Full adult price starting from 6.00€
Discounted rate starting from 4.00€ (Étudiants, scolaires. Gratuit - 7 ans Journées du patrimoine)
Group price starting from 4.00€ (Minimum 10 personnes)
Price for subscribers starting from 7.00€ (Forfait visite de l'Abbaye et du musée André Deluol)
Payment methods
Credit card
Cheques and postal orders
Holiday vouchers
Visits
Guided tours on request (individuelles): Yes
Guided tours (individuelles): Yes
Average duration of visit (individuelles) : @duration of visit
Guided tours on request (groupes): Yes
Average duration of visit (groupes) : @duration of visit
Visit languages
Visit: French, English
Billboards: German, English
Spoken language
English
French
Services
Shop
Further information
Groups accepted from 10 to 20 persons
Pets not allowed
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