Abbaye Notre-Dame, Cistercian monastery ruins in Longpont, France
Abbaye Notre-Dame is a Cistercian monastery complex featuring a Gothic church with missing roof and empty rose window. The ruins preserve exterior walls, buttresses, and remains of several medieval buildings that once housed the monastic community.
Bernard of Clairvaux founded the monastery in 1131 at Josselin Vierzy's request, with the Gothic church built between 1192 and 1227. The complex survived centuries but suffered damage during the French Revolution and experienced later dismantling.
The entrance gate displays carved coats of arms that reveal links to regional noble families of the time. Visitors can still see this rare example of defensive architecture built within a monastery compound.
The site is open during weekdays and Sunday, giving visitors time to explore the ruins without rush. Wearing weatherproof clothing is recommended since you will be exposed to the elements in open areas.
The monastery preserves gallery corridors from the 18th century with wrought iron railings in Louis XIV style, showing how different periods coexisted at the site. These later ornamental additions create an interesting contrast with the older Gothic sections of the complex.
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