An hotel in an UNESCO site that you can explore after hours. That is my kind of hotel. Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage is one of the most unique places to stay in the Loire Valley, located within the UNESCO-listed Fontevraud Abbey. Did I plan our family holiday, which started cycling in the Loire valley and ended with exploring La Rochelle with the thought that we could stay at the Fontevraud Abbey Hotel? Yes! Of course I did, just don’t tell Mr CW!
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Why Fontevraud?
One person, Eleanor of Aquitaine. My favourite Queen. As soon as I heard that an hotel was opening in the grounds of Fontevraud Abbey in the Loire Valley of France I knew I had to visit. Back in the 1980s, I visited Fontevraud Abbey and was entranced. Here were the tombs of Eleanor of Aquitaine, King Henry II and Richard the Lionheart. The Abbey itself was emerging from decades spent as a prison and was a beauty awakening. Spool forward thirty or so years. Now the Abbey is largely restored and there is an hotel in the former abbey hospital. Impossible to resist.
Can you stay in Fontevraud Abbey?
Yes! Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage is a unique hotel located inside the historic Fontevraud Abbey in the Loire Valley of France. Guests can stay within the abbey walls and explore the cloisters, church and gardens after the site closes to the public.
Review of Hôtel de Fontevraud l’Hermitage
UNESCO heritage site, tick. Slap bang in the centre of the Loire valley, tick. Michelin starred restaurant, tick. Everything that a culturally minded traveller could ask for.
Arriving at Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage
We arrived by car. Ignore all the signs to car parks for the Abbey and Art Museum, you want the hotel car park (obviously). This can be found on Rue Saint-Jean de l’Habit. Drive up to the barrier and use the intercom to call hotel reception. They will ask you if you need help with your bags … say yes, it is a 150 metre walk to the hotel along a gravel path not friendly to suitcase wheels. Once parked, a golf buggy will appear (as long as you said yes to help) to ferry your bags (and you, if needed) to the hotel.
Rooms at Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage
Quiet luxury is the vibe for the rooms at Fontevraud. All come with a view of either the orchard or the cloister. Blond wood and white linens create a calm space. I especially liked that the TV could be hidden behind a sliding woven screen. In the bathroom the walk in shower was powerful and the toiletries smelt divine. We had a comfort room, the smallest of the rooms, with an orchard view and it was perfect.
Eating at Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage
Chef Thibaut Ruggeri helms the Michelin starred restaurant at Fontevraud which is open Wednesday to Sunday. Our stay was on a Monday and so our options were to go out, eat a picnic we had brought with us in the orchard or buy a picnic created by Thibaut Ruggeri’s team. We opted for the fancy option. Sadly our plan to eat in the orchard was thwarted by a sudden rain storm and so we ate inside in the beautiful refectory. At lunch time La Terrasse Gourmande, serves simpler fare in the former Orangerie.
Breakfast at Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage
Breakfast is eaten in the cloisters and is quite simply the most beautiful place I have ever eaten breakfast. Every morsel of food matched the beauty of the surroundings.
Is there a Gym at Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage
There is a gym but to be honest it is tiny. An excerise bike and some weights, all very beautiful. My preference was to walk around the stunning grounds, you could even run if you fancied.
History of Fontevraud Abbey
Fontevraud Abbey was founded in the early 12th century and was unusual in that it was one establishment but with two monasteries. One for men and one for women. Both were ruled by the same Abbess. Yes, that’s right, an Abbess. Royal patronage came swiftly. One for the first Abbesses was the widow of the heir to the English throne. Eleanor of Aquitaine lived here. She is buried here along with her husband Henry II and son Richard the Lionheart. The Plantagenets lost control of Anjou in 1204 and the Abbey was never quite so wealthy ever again. All monasteries were dissolved in 1789 during the French Revolution. Fontevraud then became a prison until 1963. It wasn’t until 1985 that the Abbey opened to the public. I visited in 1987 when the restoration was very much a work in progress.
Things to do at Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage
Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage is one of those hotels that when you arrive you really don’t need to stray very far.
Explore Fontevraud Abbey
Guests at Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage have free access to the Abbey and grounds. The Abbey is huge. You get a real sense of how religious houses were really huge large communities. In addition to the vast main church, where you can see the tombs of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II and Richard the Lionheart. You can explore the domed cookhouse, stroll in the cool cloisters. Meander through enclosed gardens. Gaze at refectory and delve deep into the cellars.
Exploring Fontevraud Abbey after hours
After the Abbey shuts its doors to the public (6pm winter, 7pm spring/autumn, 8pm summer) hotel guests can explore the Abbey buildings until half past midnight. As the last of the public left the rain clouds cleared and we had a perfect summer evening to explore. Eleanor of Aquitaine is my favourite queen, so to be able to fangirl at her tomb, alone, was very special. Afterwards I channelled by inner Eleanor by strolling quietly in the cloisters. My only sadness, that I wasn’t wearing a full medieval queen outfit.
Visiting the Fontevraud Museum of Modern Art
Housed in the courtyard of the Abbey the Museum of Modern Art is a complete contrast to the medieval glories that lie within the Abbey grounds. 800 works from artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec and Degas hang side by side with ancient artefacts of non European origin. My kind of gallery.
Walking around the village of Fontevraud
Stroll around the quiet streets of the village of Fontevraud that nestles between the Abbey and the rivers. Sit in a cafe and watch the world go by. For me, strolling around made clear the symbiosis of the lay and religious communities. Outside the gates lived people who traded and worked in the Abbey. Inside a thriving religious community.
Was it worth staying at Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage?
YES! Would I go again? Yes. Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage may be one of the most unique historic hotels in the Loire Valley. For me, this was the perfect Loire valley heritage hotel. We stayed for one night, but we arrived early before room check in and ate a picnic in the grounds that we had brought with us. Then we visited the Art Museum, explored the village and had a first look round the Abbey. One night was enough to see everything there is to see. If you are looking for an hotel near Fontevraud, then why not actually stay IN the Abbey. The one thing I would change? I would stay on a night when the restaurant was open.
FAQ: Visiting and Staying at Fontevraud Abbey
Can you visit Fontevraud Abbey after hours?
Guests staying at Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage can explore the abbey grounds after the site closes to the public. This means you can visit the cloisters, church and gardens in the evening when the crowds have gone.
Where is Fontevraud Abbey?
Fontevraud Abbey is located in the Loire Valley in western France, near the towns of Chinon and Saumur, where the Loire and Vienne rivers meet.
Who is buried at Fontevraud Abbey?
Fontevraud Abbey is the burial place of several Plantagenet rulers including Eleanor of Aquitaine, King Henry II of England and their son Richard the Lionheart.
Visiting Fontevraud Abbey: Quick Facts
- Location: Loire Valley, France
- Founded: Early 12th century
- Famous for: Tombs of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II and Richard the Lionheart
- Current use: Museum, cultural centre and hotel
- Hotel: Hôtel de Fontevraud L’Ermitage inside the abbey walls
We love staying in heritage buildings, take a look at posts about our stays in Colditz Castle, moated castles in the Netherlands and a fairy tale castle near Bremen
