Mortemart Abbey

Mortemart Abbey

Mortemart Abbey is an abandoned Cistercian monastery built in the forest of Lyons, now situated between the French towns of Lyons-la-Forêt and Lorris, approximately 34 kilometers southeast of Rouen in the Eure department, within the jurisdiction of the commune of Lorris.

The abbey was originally established in 1134 on land donated that year by King Henry I to Cistercian monks. At the time, a drained lake in the area had long accumulated stagnant water, and the monks dug channels to irrigate the surrounding arid land. This body of still, dead water became known in modern French as “morte mare,” from which the abbey takes its name. The monks built one of the largest Cistercian monasteries in the world on this land. Over centuries of historical change, Mortemart Abbey gradually declined. It was rebuilt in the 17th century but could not escape destruction during the French Revolution, leaving only five monks in the end.

Today, almost all of the 12th-century structures of Mortemart Abbey were destroyed during the French Revolution, except for the cloister, leaving behind only an empty shell. The ruins of the 17th-century buildings are relatively well-preserved and are open to visitors, with guided tours available year-round. The site also includes a well-preserved 17th-century dovecote, which was used as a prison during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Mortemer Abbey

Why you should go: One of the largest remnants of a Cistercian abbey in France

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: France[France]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Upper Normandy Region [Upper Normandy Region]