Abbaye de la Victoire, 13th-century abbey ruins in Senlis, France

The Abbaye de la Victoire is a ruined stone complex with a tall square tower and a wall pierced by three pointed Gothic arches. The left arch holds three small carved figures in a niche, and buttresses divide the wall between the arches. Vegetation grows along the broken top edge, and the base rests on grass.

The abbey was founded in 1222 by King Philippe Auguste to commemorate victories at the battles of Bouvines against Otto IV and La Roche aux Moines against Jean sans Terre. Its establishment reflected royal power and made the site a monument to military triumph.

Twelve Augustinian canons from Saint-Victor in Paris settled here on Ash Wednesday 1224, led by the monk Menend, who became provost rather than abbot and built up a well-stocked library. The first abbot, Jean-Baptiste, an Alemannic canon of Saint-Victor, held office for twenty-two years. In 1475 Louis XI obtained for the house the title of patriarchal church and head of the whole Augustinian order.

The grounds are open to visitors during specific periods such as late September through December and during European Heritage Days. It is helpful to check opening dates in advance and wear comfortable shoes, as the site involves walking on uneven historic foundations.

The abbey church that Louis XI funded from 1478 was only finished in 1529, and its ruins are what remain in the park today. Louis XI stayed at the abbey several times and had a castle built about twenty toises from the church; it was never completed or lived in, fell into ruin and was demolished in 1555 with the king's permission.