Abbaye du Ronceray d'Angers

Abbaye du Ronceray d'Angers is a Benedictine nunnery in Angers featuring Romanesque architecture throughout its buildings. The main church displays rounded stone arches, barrel vaults, and carved capitals decorated with plant and animal designs, while the complex contains a chapter house, refectory, and residential quarters.

The abbey was founded in 1028 by Countess Hildegarde, wife of Foulques III of Anjou, and underwent major reconstruction between 1060 and 1119 following Romanesque design principles.

The abbey's name comes from its most famous image: a statue of the Virgin Mary surrounded by brambles, a detail that shaped devotion here for centuries. Visitors walking through the spaces can sense how this visual symbol became central to the identity of the place.

Parts of the abbey buildings are open to visitors, particularly during temporary exhibitions and special events held throughout the year. It is helpful to allow time to explore the church space and adjoining areas like the chapter house and refectory at a leisurely pace.

The crypt was rediscovered in 1527 and holds a striking statue of the Virgin Mary entwined in brambles, a haunting image that gave the entire monastery its name. This single artistic detail became so meaningful that it shaped the identity and memory of the whole place.