Prémontré Abbey

Prémontré Abbey was founded in 1120 by Norbert of Xanten and served as the founding location of the Premonstratensian order, situated in the forest of Voas in the Aisne department of the Hauts-de-France region.

The church was consecrated on April 28, 1122, by bishops Barthélemy of Laon and Lisiard of Soissons, with the order rapidly expanding across Europe to establish over 600 abbeys by the end of the twelfth century.

The order adopted the Rule of Saint Augustine for canons and the Rule of Saint Benedict for monks, establishing a communal life centered on prayer, manual labor, and apostolic preaching throughout the medieval period.

Since 1861, the complex has housed a public psychiatric hospital, with only portions of the original buildings accessible to visitors, and the structures were designated as historical monuments in 1862.

The abbey features a suspended staircase built over a vault around 1730, attributed to architect Nicolas Bonhomme, who also contributed to the construction of the Saint-Martin abbey in Laon.

Location: Prémontré

Inception: 1120

GPS coordinates: 49.54722,3.41056

Latest update: November 25, 2025 11:55