Bon-Repos Abbey

Saint-Gelven, France

The Bon-Repos Abbey was founded by Viscount Alain III de Rohan in c. 1184. According to legend, he was asked to build it by the Virgin Mary; she appeared to him in a dream when he fell asleep on this spot after a hard day’s hunting in the Quénécan Forest. After a tumultuous history, which included being burnt down by the Chouans (Royalists) in 1795, the abbey fell into ruin until it was rescued in 1986 by the local community who founded the Association of Friends of Bon Repos Abbey. Thanks to the association, part of the abbey has been restored although the main body is an empty shell. Nowadays the abbey is devoted to nurturing contemporary art by having artists in residence and holding regular exhibitions.

References:

Brittany Tourism

Address

D44, Saint-Gelven, France

See all sites in Saint-Gelven

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Religious sites in France
Historical period: Late Capetians (France)

More Information

www.brittanytourism.com

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Martyn Smith (5 years ago)
Beautiful walks in stunning setting

D Henrich (5 years ago)
Interesting scenery of an old 13th century gate and a square ruin of the 17th century, which used to be a cistercensian abbaye before. Without corona-pandemic, there is a big summer light-show in front of the monasterie's ruins surrounded by lush woods.

Chris Dunn (5 years ago)
It's a building site at the moment.

Ann On-Holiday (5 years ago)
A small but lively artisan market there on a Sunday. Plus a bar overlooking the lake & another bar further down. The Abbey and woods and lake are very nice indeed. Better in the sunshine!

Paula Turner (7 years ago)
Fab show we really enjoyed it and not expensive

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Mark1792

Historic Site of the week

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.

The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.

Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.