National Museum of Port-Royal-des-Champs, Religious museum in Magny-les-Hameaux, France.
The National Museum of Port-Royal-des-Champs occupies a 30-hectare estate with ruins of a former Cistercian abbey and a 13th-century dovecote. The museum displays art and objects from monastic life alongside the remaining structures set in their original gardens.
The abbey was founded in 1204 and became a major center of monastic life. In 1710, King Louis XIV ordered its destruction because the monks living there held theological views that conflicted with royal authority.
The name Port-Royal refers to the royal chapel that once stood here. Visitors can see today how the remaining buildings and gardens reflect the spiritual life that unfolded within these walls.
The grounds spread across rolling gardens and open spaces that can be explored on foot. The best way to see all areas is to walk at a leisurely pace and follow the signage that guides you to the main points of interest.
Visitors can see Pascal's Well, a historic water source connected to the famous mathematician and philosopher. The site was also a refuge for scholars who withdrew from worldly life to live in quiet seclusion.
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