After Chateau Brézé we moved on to Fontevraud Abbey. Close to Saumur in the Loire valley, the Abbey is best known for its association with the Plantagenet monarchs of England.
These are the recumbent Plantagenets, medieval sculptures of Henry 2nd of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, his wife, in the second row and Richard the Lionheart their second son and Isabelle of Angouleme who was Eleanors daughter in law, the husband of her son King John, in the foreground.
Eleanor of Aquitaine, who knew a bit about marrying well, became the Queen of France when she married King Louis VII in 1137. She eventually forced her husband to agree to an annulment of the marriage on grounds of consanguinity. Subsequently she married Count Henry of Anjou in 1152…he was shortly to become King of England. Henry was her third cousin (any worries about consanguinity must have evaporated) and nine years younger than her; she was to bear him 8 children, 3 of whom would become kings.
She was a powerful and politically active woman who was later to conspire with her son Henry against her husband, who had her imprisoned for 16 years. She was ultimately to outlive all her husbands and most of her children.
Henry 2nd. Second husband of Eleanor, Father of Richard the Lionheart.
Richard the Lionheart, King of England for 10 years, to die of a crossbow bolt wound whilst fighting in the Dordogne.
Isabelle of Angouleme, the wife of King John of England, lying next to her Brother in law Richard the Lionheart.
Stained Glass Window overlooking the recumbent sculptures.
The cloisters.
Archway to chapter House, Detail from Arch below.
Chapter House Window
The Chapter House was the administrative centre, where the Abbess presided over the running of the Abbey.
The ornate Chapter House tiles commemorate the Bourbon family…Renee de Bourbon (RB) was Abbess from 1491 (at the age of 22) and ran the Abbey for 43 years, and was followed by Louise Bourbon, her niece.
Abbey Kitchens. The spiky bits, reminiscent of Minarets, are the Chimneys.
Interior of Kitchen chimney.
15th Century Door Latch
Art Installation in Dormitory, which is currently being converted in to a hotel.
Art in Abbey Church. Symbolism not immediately obvious….luckily it was explained, as follows:
Rambling about Europe with the Kray Twins (Colin and Penny).
Travels with Mavis 
Are you still staying at the same site south of Saumur
No…we have been out of wifi so blog a bit behind. Crossed to Aquitaine on Royan ferry yesterday and currently on an aire in the Medoc.
Peter,
Thanks once again, these blogs just get better and better ! Such a pity about our Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell. It would be so exciting to have just one or two intact medieval monasteries. What a gal our Eleanor was ! I bet she was head of school, captain of hockey and all that before she began making a real CV. Where next ? Keep them coming,
Jim
Not so sure she was squeaky clean at School……anyone out there know?
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