Port-Royal-des-Champs, Cistercian monastery in France
Port-Royal-des-Champs was a Cistercian convent in Magny-les-Hameaux that housed nuns dedicated to religious life. The complex contained prayer halls, living quarters, and service buildings organized according to the order's strict rules.
The monastery was founded in the 13th century and developed into an influential religious community. In the 17th century it became associated with Jansenist theology, which eventually led to its suppression by royal authorities.
The site was a center where educated women engaged in theological debate and intellectual pursuits within their religious community. The remaining traces show how this place represented a rare space where women could pursue scholarship and spiritual life together.
The site is not open to the public today and can only be viewed from outside. Visitors should expect to see only fragmentary ruins scattered across the grounds.
The nuns here were known for fostering French literature and philosophy in ways that were unusual for their time. Their intellectual circles attracted scholars and made the monastery an important meeting place for the exchange of ideas.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
