Abbaye Notre-Dame de l'Eau

Abbaye Notre-Dame de l'Eau is a Cistercian abbey near Ver-les-Chartres featuring surviving structures from different periods, including a gatehouse from the 13th century. The complex stands close to the Eure River and contains a residential building that once housed the abbess, constructed in the 18th century.

The monastery was founded in 1226 by Count Jean of Chartres and his wife Isabelle as a new Cistercian community. During the French Revolution around 1790, the abbey was shut down and parts of its buildings were demolished.

The abbey was home to nuns who lived according to strict Cistercian rules, dividing their days between prayer and work. The community followed a disciplined rhythm that shaped how the place was organized and used.

The abbey is located near Ver-les-Chartres in the Eure-et-Loir region and can be reached by car or on foot from nearby towns. Some portions of the complex remain private, so access to certain areas may be restricted.

The monastery remained active for more than five centuries and played a key role in the local economy through agricultural operations. The nuns managed extensive lands and forests that generated income and shaped how surrounding villages developed.