Royal abbey of l'Epau

The Royal Abbey of l'Épau is a 13th-century Cistercian monastery on the eastern edge of Le Mans, in the Sarthe department of France. Well preserved and set within a large park, it now operates as a cultural venue owned by the Sarthe departmental council.

Who founded the abbey?

The founder was Berengaria of Navarre, daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre and Beatrice of Castile. In 1191, at the age of 25, she married Richard the Lionheart, King of England, on the island of Cyprus while he was travelling to the Crusades. Widowed in 1199 without an heir, she was pushed aside by Richard's successor, John Lackland. From 1204 she lived in Le Mans, in the former palace of the Counts of Maine.

Why was the abbey built here?

Richard's family refused to let his widow be buried alongside him at Fontevraud Abbey. Berengaria therefore decided to found her own resting place: in 1229 she brought Cistercian monks to Le Mans and began building the abbey of l'Épau. She died only a year later, before construction was finished - the building work continued from 1230 to 1365.

What survives from the original abbey?

The complex was altered in the 16th and 17th centuries. During the French Revolution it was sold as national property and turned into a farm by its new owner. It was not until 1959 that the site passed to the Sarthe department, which has managed it as a historic monument ever since.

What can visitors see today?

The abbey stands in a 13-hectare park at the edge of the Arche de la Nature, a nature reserve. Visitors can tour the abbey church, the cloister and the former monastic buildings. The grounds also include a permaculture vegetable garden: following the self-sufficient tradition of the Cistercian monks, the abbey aims to supply its own restaurant entirely from its own produce.

What cultural events take place there?

Every May the abbey hosts the Épau Festival, with around thirty concerts spanning classical, chamber, vocal and sacred music alongside alternative acts. It also stages Teriyaki Naps, a two-day festival of staged music. Throughout the year the abbey runs temporary exhibitions on nature, culture and heritage, including photography trails through the park.

Opening hours and practical information

From September to June the abbey is open on Mondays, and from Wednesday to Sunday, from 11am to 6pm. In July and August the hours extend to 10am-7pm. It is closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Frequently asked questions

Who is buried at the Abbey of l'Épau? Berengaria of Navarre, widow of Richard the Lionheart, is buried in the abbey church she founded.

Is the abbey open on Tuesdays? No - the abbey is closed on Tuesdays all year round.

Can visitors walk the park without a ticket to the buildings? The 13-hectare park surrounds the monastic buildings and borders the Arche de la Nature nature reserve.

Which events are worth planning ahead for? The May classical music festival and the Teriyaki Naps festival draw larger crowds, so booking ahead is recommended.