Abbey
The abbey
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| © Michel Chassat |
Royaumont Abbey is open to visitors every day, including December 25 and January 1 !
Surrounded by streams and lying near a bird sanctuary, Royaumont Abbey was built in a protected environment developed by the monks. The remarkably well-preserved Abbey still stands surrounded by wetlands and forests. Its cloister and refectory are among the most outstanding still extant.
A garden inspired by medieval times opened in June 2004 When landscape architect Olivier Damée created this gardenin 2004, he designed it to showcase collections ofplants that were to be periodically renewed. The firsttheme of the exhibition was medicinal plants from thelist drawn up in the 12th century by the abbess Hildegardvon Bingen. The theme of this exhibition, whichstarts in 2007, is plants used for dying and weaving. Theyhark back to ancient techniques, but they also suggest the symbolism of colours.
Saint Louis, King of France, founded Royaumont in 1228 and Cistercian monks occupied it up until the Revolution. In 1791 the Abbey was transformed into a cotton mill and then in 1869 into a noviciate by nuns who undertook the first extensive restoration work. At the beginning of the 20th century the Abbey was acquired by the Goüin family, which set up the Royaumont Foundation (Fondation Goüin-Lang pour le Progrès des Sciences de l'Homme) in 1964 and made it a gift of the Abbey.
Fondation Royaumont
F- 95 270 Asnières sur Oise
tél : +33/(01) 30 35 59 00