In the heart of a soothing setting of timeless splendor, the Cistercian Abbey of Royaumont, built in 1228 by the young Louis IX (or future Saint Louis) and listed as a historic monument in 1927, has had several successive lives, from its origins as a Cistercian monastery, to becoming a court abbey, an industrial site, a novitiate, a war hospital, a country residence, before being transformed into a Centre Culturel de Rencontre.
Royaumont Abbey has never been abandoned!
WHAT TO DO AT ROYAUMONT ABBEY?
Just 40 minutes from Paris, the Abbaye de Royaumont has become a dream destination for history buffs, families looking for leisure activities, nature lovers and more.
- Family holidays
Royaumont Abbey is a magical place where you’ll find everything you need.
If you’re with your family, the Abbey offers you and your little “sweeties” the chance to discover the Abbey, its history, its architecture and many other aspects.
You’ll also benefit from free guided tours of the monument, to immerse you in its history and learn more about its secrets.
- Reception for friends and family
If you’d like to organize a reception for members of your family, to celebrate a milestone event, the Abbaye would be your best choice.
The Abbaye de Royaumont is a veritable treasure trove of Gothic art, built around a magnificent Cistercian cloister. Its park, romantic ruins and three sublime gardens (the cloister garden, the garden of the nine squares and the Potager-Jardin) complete this idyllic setting, making your celebration an unforgettable day.
- Business seminars and events
For business leaders looking to strengthen their teams and pamper their staff, institutions or associations wishing to organize informative seminars or conferences in a pleasant, soothing setting, the Abbaye de Royaumont is the ideal destination for such events.
The Abbaye de Royaumont offers spacious meeting rooms for up to 500 people, large refectories, authentic hotel facilities and seasonal catering.
True to an ancient tradition of hospitality and conviviality, the Royaumont team will help you set up and run your seminars and events in one of the most exotic and prestigious sites in the Ile-de-France region.
Benefit from all the amenities you expect for your collaborators, colleagues or clients, as well as digital and technological solutions tailored to your needs.
Focus on your work and thoughts, and the Abbey team will take care of everything else.
- Business seminars and events
For business leaders looking to strengthen their teams and pamper their staff, institutions or associations wishing to organize informative seminars or conferences in a pleasant, soothing setting, the Abbaye de Royaumont is the ideal destination for such events.
The Abbaye de Royaumont offers spacious meeting rooms for up to 500 people, large refectories, authentic hotel facilities and seasonal catering.
True to an ancient tradition of hospitality and conviviality, the Royaumont team will help you set up and run your seminars and events in one of the most exotic and prestigious sites in the Ile-de-France region.
Benefit from all the amenities you expect for your collaborators, colleagues or clients, as well as digital and technological solutions tailored to your needs.
Focus on your work and thoughts, and the Abbey team will take care of everything else.
ABBAYE DE ROYAUMONT: BETWEEN ART AND ARCHITECTURE
The Abbaye de Royaumont, like many other historic monuments, welcomes artistic expression in all its forms.
The Abbey’s architecture inspires artists, be they musicians, singers, painters, theater actors and more.
The breathtaking ruins, the cloister that verges on perfection, the gardens, are inspiring aspects for artists who choose the Abbey as a destination to refine their talents, practice their passions or even to attend spellbinding shows, in the form of concerts, plays or dance choreography.
Indeed, this area offers a range of programs around music, history, architecture, nature, crafts and dance.
The Abbey’s most precious asset and treasure lies in the monks’ refectory, the Abbey’s most grandiose room.
Here we find a great organ by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, built in 1864 and installed at the Abbey in 1936.
Numerous artists in residence and students of the Paris Conservatoire organ class regularly use this instrument, ensuring its preservation.
The Abbey also hosts the annual Royaumont Festival in September and October.
This event is the culmination of artist residencies and training courses held at the Abbey throughout the year.
Fenêtres sur cour is also held, a series of encounters designed to showcase the work of artists in residence or training.
ROYAUMONT ABBEY IS HEAVEN ON EARTH!
This pretty Cistercian abbey was built in the midst of verdant forests and small streams. Here, you can relax in peace and quiet, without large crowds.
The well-maintained footpaths offer picture-postcard views at every turn.
Tall chestnut trees stand like pillars along the paths, creating a shady canopy against the direct sun.
If you look carefully, you may even find the hidden grotto, now empty – a relic of ancient devotion.
The buildings are well preserved and you can feel the centuries beneath your feet as you walk on the well-worn stone floors, or on the pillared walkways around the absolutely stunning inner courtyard.
Try to imagine how long it took to cut and assemble each carved arch… Think of the skills of our predecessors.
Most of the Abbey’s rooms have informative plaques to help you deepen your historical knowledge.
If you plan your visit well, you can even spend some time in the great hall of the chapel and attend a live organ recital! Note in this room the “pulpit” for preaching to the congregation.
In recent years, they have created a remarkable “Jardin de Curee”, or herb garden, just outside the chapel.
Using very traditional methods, each above-ground container is specially planted with flowers and herbs that were used by the resident ministers.
This abbey should be seen as a place where you can walk slowly, taking time to appreciate the beauty.
Stroll along the side of the Abbey and pass the remains of a once massive cathedral, with only the bell tower still standing.
Sitting on a few fallen stones, your keen eye may even catch a glimpse of a peacock or two.
CONCLUSION
Royaumont Abbey exudes the tranquility you’d expect from an ancient Cistercian monument. It’s beautiful because it’s uncluttered and silent.
You can hear your surroundings undisturbed.
You can hear the sound of water running in little rivulets in the middle of the cloister basin.
The gardens are also beautiful, didactic spaces where creativity and imagination can express themselves.
They are in symbiosis with the buildings.
In fact, it’s easy to imagine the monks working the land, planting vegetables and picking fruit. All in all, it’s a simply enchanting place, and a must-see!