First stop this morning was the church of Notre Dame la Grand which was built in the 11th century by the future pope Urbain II. It has recently been restored to it’s former splendor and is a master piece of Romanesque art.
And the stain glass windows were magnificent
Next up was Saint Pierre’s Cathedral. The building of this cathedral was started in the middle of the 1150’s, at the time of Alienor (also known as Eleanor) of Aquitaine and Henry II Plantagenet, King of England. It’s architecture is characteristic of the Angevin gothic style, with strongly rounded vault and an impressive Eastern flat wall. Towards the end of the 13th century the towers and the gates of the facade were added but these were built in a French gothic style.
Then it was on the road again… heading to Chinon
With an important stop en route to visit the Royal Abbey of Our Lady of Fontevraud. This monastery was founded in 1101 by the itinerant preacher Robert of Arbrissel. The foundation flourished and became the center of a new monastic Order, the Order of Fontevrault. This order was composed of double monasteries, in which the community consisted of both men and women—in separate quarters of the abbey—all of which were subject to the authority of the Abbess of Fontevraud.
The first permanent structures were built between 1110 and 1119. The area where the Abbey is located was then part of what is sometimes referred to as the Angevin Empire. The King of England, Henry II, his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and son, King Richard the Lionheart were all buried here at the end of the 12th century. It was disestablished as a monastery during the French Revolution.
The complex of monastic buildings served as a prison from 1804 to 1963. Since 1975, it hosts a cultural centre. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The tombs of Henri II Plantagenet, King of England 1154-1189 and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of France and Queen of England 1204.
And the tombs of Richard the Lionheart, King of England 1189-1199 and Isabelle of Angoulême, wife of “Jean Sans Terre”, Queen of England 1246
No prams allowed. 🙈
Mutts on Tour 
I have never seen such amazing stained glass windows as they have in these medieval Cathedrals – the vibrant colours and artistry are beautiful and the buildings are enormous and so high – all I can think of is that great Ken Follet book “Pillars of the Earth”. I’ve been reading the English history of the XI to XVI centuries and watched that amazing documentary on Netflix called “The She Wolves” which is about the first queens of England – Matilda, Margaret, Eleanor & Isabelle and am really enjoying visiting their tombs and the cathedrals they were married in and the chateaus or fortresses they lived in. France keep their ancestry in immaculate condition. On our way now to the Le Mans Cathedral where Isabel at 25 had to marry Geoffrey Count of Anjou who was 13 years old – a fascinating story. Anyway I thought you should know why and what we are visiting. Cheers Sheila
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Ooopsie! It was Matilda who married Geoffrey – not Isabel! I never coped with the English monarchs when in school – haven’t changed!
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How could you!
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