Abbaye Notre-Dame du Nid-au-Merle

The remaining walls of the abbey display Romanesque architecture with double arched vaults and varied carved capitals in sandstone and granite materials.

Founded in 1112 by Raoul de La Futaie, the abbey functioned as a double monastery until 1792 when the French Revolution led to its closure and sale.

The transept features specific architectural passages that allowed movement between the nave and lateral chapels without entering the central crossing area reserved for nuns.

The abbey walls now serve as a natural shelter for multiple bat species and visitors can examine the preserved south transept and partial nave structures.

Archaeological excavations in the Saint-Roul sepulchral chapel revealed two empty sarcophagi and numerous ancient coins beneath the monastery grounds.

Location: Saint-Sulpice-la-Forêt

Inception: 1112

GPS coordinates: 48.21944,-1.57472

Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:48