Mortemer Abbey Ruins, Lisors, France

Mortemer Abbey was originally built in 1134 on land gifted to the Cistercians by Henry I of England. The stagnant water of the drainage lake, dug out by the monks to dry up the marshy land around the quick running Fouillebroc stream, was called 'dead mere', 'dead pond' - in modern French 'morte mare' - and gave the monastery its name.

The monks constructed what was then one of the largest Cistercian monastery in the world. Over the centuries, the abbey fell into decline and disrepair. It was rebuilt in the 17th Century, but the decline was irreversible and by 1790, when it was dissolved in the course of the French Revolution, only five monks remained.

The 12th century buildings were already more or less derelict by the time of the French Revolution, and subsequent use as a convenient source of cut stone for local construction reduced them to little more than a ruin. Apart from the cloisters, which are relatively intact, there remains only a shell.

The 17th century buildings by contrast are well preserved and open to visitors, with guided tours available most of the year. The abbey site also has a well-maintained 17th century dovecote, which was also used as a gaol house in the 18th and 19th centuries.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Carole Debonne (2 years ago)
Le lieu est superbe et l'animation proposée est de très belle qualité. Bravo à tous les bénévoles pour le très beau spectacle proposé.

Daniel Constant (3 years ago)
Franchement, plus grand chose à voir de cette abbaye au mois de novembre. Quelques ruines, des canards, un musée fermé. Bref 2 fois 6 € à fond perdu, ça permettra d'entretenir le colombier encore intact. Sans grand intérêt.

Paul MASSART (3 years ago)
Site magnifique et accueil très novateur... On e dit pas plus mais c'est magique... Vraiment une belle ballade qui vaut la peine de s'attarder.

Seastien Poussin (3 years ago)
Un parce très nature... Agréable pour la ballade.. par contre la visite fait vraiment vétuste, il serait bon d'investir un peu pour mettre en scène les scénarios ...

Dominique Boulanger (3 years ago)
One of the best abbey to visit in Normandy ,All kind of animation and professional awaiting you to show this stunning medieval place.

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