Abbaye de la Boissière, Cistercian abbey in Noyant-Villages, France
Abbaye de la Boissière is a Cistercian monastery in Noyant-Villages featuring Romanesque architecture with thick stone walls, rounded arches, and a semi-circular apse with five 12th-century windows. The building demonstrates the solid, simple design typical of religious structures from that architectural period.
Founded in 1131 as a Benedictine monastery, it shifted to the Cistercian order in 1147 through Savigny Abbey's influence and its affiliation with Cîteaux. This connection to major monastic centers shaped its spiritual direction and architectural choices.
The choir area preserves two carved stone effigies from the 14th century that reflect medieval funeral art. These burial monuments show how people of that period honored their dead through stone carving.
Group visits of 10 to 50 people are available year-round through advance reservations, with guided tours offered in French. It is best to book ahead to ensure your visit and gain deeper insight into the site's history.
A Gothic chapel within the complex once housed the True Cross relic featuring a double traverse, which influenced the design of the Cross of Lorraine. This unexpected link between a sacred relic and a famous regional symbol reveals the site's surprising historical importance.
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