The
Old Walnut Mill Delightful, spacious 2 bedroom
19th Century Loire Valley house for rent in the peaceful village of Barrou
in the department of Indre et Loire,France. The village’s location halfway
between the regional capitals of Tours and Poitiers makes it an ideal base
to explore the Loire Valley and Vienne.
In the village of FontevraudL'Abbaye, within the Loire Valley, you'll find what is the largest collection of
monastic buildings in all of France - almost a village in
itself ! Founded in the early 12th century the abbey is set
within a perimeter wall which was unfortunately not secure
enough to withstand desecration by the Huguenots in the 16th
century or partial destruction by the Revolutionaries in the
18th.
Napoleon had it converted into a state
prison in 1804 and it remained so until 1963
-its most famous inmate being the writer Jean Genet.
Since then it has seen a constant period of restoration
removing the damage time had inflicted on it.
It's history began with the formation of an
unusual collection of monks, nuns and lay brothers who chose the
location to form a community to care for the sick as well as
worship. It's founder Robert d' Arbrissel decreed that the order
should be governed by an abbess and it stayed that way right up to
the revolution. This holy alliance was given greater credence when
its abbesses were appointed from noble families (voluntarily or
otherwise) who gave the order great patronage and protection.
The most famous of these being the
Plantagenets and it is here they chose to be buried -- you
will find the effigies of Henry II king of England and count
of Anjou, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine along with their son
King Richard the Lionheart in the naive of the pristine
abbey church.
There is an impressive visitors
centre on the site and much to see including what is apparently the
last remaining example of a Romanesque kitchen in France as well as
the vast church, the chapter house and cloisters.
The Abbess who created the
chapter house, Louise de Bourbon has left her mark along
with others, with many of the scenes from the life of Christ
that adorn the chapter house having Abbesses
themselves painted into them, isn't vanity supposed to be a sin? .
Try not to confuse the numbered
locations on the site map with those for the audio guides
(or take the audio guide) as you wander the complex or you
will become just another 'lost soul' along with the many
others - although this might be considered more fun and less
'stuffy'. You might also want to check out the acoustics
in the 46 metre long refectory - missed opportunity here we
think for some taped chanting or hymn singing to bring some
life to the place.
Tip:
As you enter the town you are 'encouraged' to park quite a bit away
from the abbey but if you are early enough you can drive right up to
parking (signposted) a short distance from it's entrance.
The Abbess who created the
chapter house, Louise de Bourbon has left her mark along
with others, with many of the scenes from the life of Christ
that adorn the chapter house having Abbesses
themselves painted into them, isn't vanity supposed to be a sin? .
Tip:
As you enter the town you are 'encouraged' to park quite a bit away
from the abbey but if you are early enough you can drive right up to
parking (signposted) a short distance from it's entrance. 