Places to Visit - Churches - Frontevraud Abbey, Anjou William IX Duke of Aquitaine granted Robert of
Places to Visit - Churches - Frontevraud Abbey, AnjouWilliam IX Duke of Aquitaine granted Robert of Abrissel land in Northern Poitou to establish a religious order, thus Frontevraud was created. In 1100 the site was set and became a double monastery, housing nuns and monks. Frontevraud attracted many rich and noble women, as a respected institution, with the second Abbess being the aunt of Henry II of England. The Abbey was highly supported by the early Plantagenets, largely due to Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of Henry II, who supported the Abbey throughout her life and even became a nun there in her old age. Many of the Plantagenets were buried at Frontevraud and their tomb effigies can still be seen there today, although the remains underneath have long been lost. Some of the tombs the Abbey contains are, Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard I, King John and Isabella of Angouleme. During the French Revolution, the Abbey was dissolved and the royal remains that had been buried there were disturbed and scattered foully and lost forever. The Abbey was then used as a prison from 1804 - 1963, with a reputation for being tough and housing political prisoners. The Abbey was given over to the French Ministry of Culture to be preserved after this time. It has been opened to the public since 1985. -- source link
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