Sainte-Marie-des-Dames, Romanesque abbey in Saintes, France.
Sainte-Marie-des-Dames is a Romanesque abbey in Saintes featuring rounded arches, solid stone walls, and a distinctive bell tower shaped like a pine cone. The complex includes a church, cloister, and residential spaces that show how it once functioned as a nunnery.
This monastery was founded in 1047 and became the first women's religious community in the Saintonge region. Its story spans centuries of monastic life within these walls.
The abbey hosts cultural events that connect visitors to its monastic heritage today. You can attend musical performances and other artistic gatherings within the medieval spaces.
The site is open to visitors, and guided tours take you through the church, cloister, and exhibitions about life in the monastery. It helps to check ahead about opening times, as they vary by season.
Some of the original nun cells have been converted into hotel rooms, so guests can stay overnight where medieval sisters once lived. This unusual use combines historical experience with modern comfort.
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