L'Abbaye de l'Epau

Daughter monasteries

No

The monastery L' Épau ( Spallum; Espallum; Piété La -Dieu ) is a former Cistercian abbey in the town of Yvré -l'Évêque in the department of Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, in France. It is 4 km east of Le Mans on the banks of the Huisne.

History

The monastery was founded in 1229 based on a foundation of the widow of King Richard the Lionheart, Berengaria of Navarre, the daughter of the monastery of Citeaux. The church was consecrated in 1234 before its completion. Berengaria was initially buried in the monastery, but later her remains were in the cathedral of Le Mans. During the Hundred Years War, the monastery of inhabitants of Le Mans fear was that English could be the possession, set on fire. The reconstruction lasted until the mid 15th century. The monastery came to an end during the French Revolution. Today it is owned by the General Council of the department of Sarthe, which has been thoroughly restored.

Buildings and plant

The monastery is built around the former wooden, destroyed in the 14th century and never rebuilt cloister. The groined vault church remained unfinished. Your choir is rectangular and has closed the east a large tracery window with a rosette. From the transept go from each side three rectangular chapels. The three-bay nave is 46 m long and 15.50 m high. Only one aisle was executed. The exam is in the south of the church. In the sacristy paintings of the 14th century have been preserved. The ogival arcades open for Kreuzhof by chapter house was built in 1250-1260. Four monolithic columns with decorated capitals weinblatt carry his groin vault. Above it lies the dormitory. The groined vault heat room has a very large fireplace. Even the monk hall dating from 1290, is kreuzgratgewölbt.