Abbaye Notre-Dame du Nid-au-Merle, Medieval abbey in Saint-Sulpice-la-Forêt, France.
Abbaye Notre-Dame du Nid-au-Merle is a medieval monastery in Saint-Sulpice-la-Forêt featuring Romanesque architecture with preserved walls and structural remains. The site displays double arched vaults and varied carved capitals in sandstone and granite, with the south transept and partial nave structures still visible.
Founded in 1112 by Raoul de La Futaie, the monastery operated as a double monastery with both monks and nuns. The French Revolution brought closure and sale of the property in 1792.
The transept contains architectural passages that allowed movement between the nave and side chapels without crossing the central area reserved for nuns. This spatial design reveals how religious rules shaped the daily use of the space.
The walls now shelter multiple bat species, so watch for wildlife around the remains. Access to the preserved structures requires caution due to uneven ground and aged stonework.
Archaeological excavations in the Saint-Roul chapel uncovered two empty sarcophagi and numerous ancient coins beneath the monastery grounds. These findings suggest the site held a longer and more complex history than the visible remains indicate.
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