Royal Abbey of Notre-Dame de Lieu-Dieu, Jard-sur-Mer, France

The Royal Abbey of Notre-Dame de Lieu-Dieu, founded in 1197 by Richard the Lionheart for Premonstratensian canons, suffered three devastations in 1372, 1484, and 1568. After various trials, it was annexed to a Parisian Premonstratensian college in 1720. The abbey was turned into an agricultural enterprise in 1733 and sold as a national asset in 1791. In 2012, it was acquired and restored by Mr. and Mrs. Alain du Peloux, opening to visitors in 2013.

User Reviews

Flo SABI (12 months ago)
We passed by but at this season it was closed!

TRONEL Dominique (13 months ago)
A somewhat brief presentation as part of heritage days, but interesting. Renovation feels like pouring water into sand, it's endless.

Vincent wsk (13 months ago)
Visit during heritage days with the owner. Magnificent property with a real history dating back to Richard the Lionheart.

Michel GARRAULT (14 months ago)
Quick visit in about 30 minutes. Few accessible rooms and the comments are not up to this historic place. Disappointing.

E P-H (16 months ago)
Too bad, the abbey is closed! But even from the outside it seems like a wonderful place of history...07/19 for the reopening of visits!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Staffan O Andersson

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Before the arrival of Christianity in Sweden, Gamla Uppsala was the seat of Swedish kings and a ceremonial site known all over northern Europe. The settlement was home to royal palaces, a royal burial ground, and a great pagan temple. The Uppsala temple, which was described in detail by Adam of Bremen in the 1070s, housed wooden statues of the Norse gods Odin, Thor and Freyr. A golden chain hung across its gables and the inside was richly decorated with gold. The temple had priests, who sacrificed to the gods according to the needs of the people.

The first Christian cathedral was probably built in the 11th century, but finished in the 12th century. The stone building may have been preceded by a wooden church and probably by the large pagan temple.

Royal Abbey of Notre-Dame de Lieu-Dieu

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