Daoulas Abbey Ruins, Daoulas, France

The buildings of former Daoulas Abbey - a cloister and a 12th century font, an oratory and a monumental 16th century fountain, together with the 18th century conventual house - are an exceptional tribute to Breton art from the 10th century onwards. It was established by Guyomarch IV de Léon in 1173, but there has been at least a church since the 6th century. The former abbey was raided and looted by Vikings.

Daoulas Abbey was secularized in 1771-1792 and moved as a private property. The abbey has been renowned since 1986 for the quality and originality of its archaeological, historical or ethnological exhibitions organised in collaboration with some of the most known world wide museums. The abbey houses a superb medicinal garden with over 250 species. It is still structured and organised like most middle age/renaissance convent or monastery gardens.

References:

frenchconnections.co.uk

User Reviews

Raul Buibas (11 months ago)
Beautiful and well organized place. Medicinal garden was really interesting. I visited during the pandemic and was pleased with the hygiene and thoughtfulness concerning distancing and protecting the visitors.

George Pipia (17 months ago)
Fascinating place! Would advise to visit it. Really nice job done by Abbey's gardeners!

Sarah Hepton (2 years ago)
Very nice. Would recommend a visit. Interesting exhibition and beautiful medicinal garden

Claire Martin (2 years ago)
Beautiful setting, loads of history and lovely old buildings, places to walk and eat.

Jeremy Issakieiwicz (3 years ago)
A visiter surtout pour son jardin. Expo à thème. Profitez en pour vous perdre dans le vieux Daoulas qui vaut le détour également.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Martin M. Miles

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The Abbey of Saint-Etienne, also known as Abbaye aux Hommes ('Men"s Abbey'), is a former monastery dedicated to Saint Stephen (Saint Étienne). It is considered, along with the neighbouring Abbaye aux Dames ('Ladies" Abbey'), to be one of the most notable Romanesque buildings in Normandy. Like all the major abbeys in Normandy, it was Benedictine.

Lanfranc, before being an Archbishop of Canterbury, was abbot of Saint-Etienne. Built in Caen stone during the 11th century, the two semi-completed churches stood for many decades in competition. An important feature added to both churches in about 1120 was the ribbed vault, used for the first time in France. The two abbey churches are considered forerunners of the Gothic architecture. The original Romanesque apse was replaced in 1166 by an early Gothic chevet, complete with rosette windows and flying buttresses. Nine towers and spires were added in the 13th century. The interior vaulting shows a similar progression, beginning with early sexpartite vaulting (using circular ribs) in the nave and progressing to quadipartite vaults (using pointed ribs) in the sanctuary.

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