View of Bonport Abbey in Normandy from the parkAt the confluence of the Seine and Eure rivers, downstream from Pont-de-L’Arche, Bonport Abbey is a jewel of Norman abbeys. Whether you’re a history buff or just curious, this Cistercian abbey will transport you back to Normandy’s monastic past, revealing the remains of an exceptional heritage.
The Seine valley and the Eure valley are full of mysterious legends where knights constantly rub shoulders with the divine.
Here, legend has it that Richard the Lionheart, heir to the Plantagenet empire, then King of England and Duke of Normandy, almost drowned in the Seine, swept away by the current on his horse while pursuing a stag during a hunting party. He prayed to God that he would be spared and promised to build an abbey on the spot where he would set foot on dry land. When he arrived safely on this bank of the river, Richard the Lionheart had this monastery built in 1189. Cistercian monks were established here as early as 1190.
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Rest assured, you don’t need to be a history buff or know the chronology of Norman sovereigns to fully appreciate the medieval heritage of this majestic site, listed as a historic monument since 1942.
view of some of the exterior remains of Bonport Abbey in Normandy in the gardens.
View of a luminous interior at Bonport Abbey in Normandy.
View of the architecturally preserved windows at Bonport Abbey in NormandySituated 20km from Rouen, capital of the Duchy of Normandy, Bonport Abbey is one of the few Cistercian abbeys in Normandy where medieval cloister buildings still exist. During your visit, discover the chapter house, the monks’ room, the dormitory, the kitchens and the majestic 13th-century vaulted refectory, and immerse yourself in the daily life of the monks. You’ll be dazzled by the beauty of these medieval remains, forever marked by the history of a tumultuous past. The abbey was severely damaged during the Hundred Years’ War, and again during the French Revolution, when the cloister and church were destroyed.
View of one of the impressive facades of Bonport Abbey in Normandy
View of the former refectory of Bonport Abbey in Normandy
Close-up of a stained-glass window overlooking the gardens at Bonport Abbey in Normandy.
Interior view of the picturesque kitchens at Bonport Abbey in Normandy, large table, antique utensilsNestled in the heart of a large park overlooking the Seine, these ancestral monastic buildings respond to a lush, generous natural setting. A pleasant stroll awaits you!
An essential stopover on the Route des Abbayes Normandes, Bonport Abbey can be visited during the summer months and hosts cultural events every summer.
Visits take place in 2022 from May to September every 1st Sunday of the month: 1st May, 5th June, 3rd July, 7th August and 4th September from 2pm to 6.30pm.
