Up to 60 guests
In the Loire Valley, just 20 minutes from Saumur, the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud stands as one of France’s most historically rich wedding venues. Founded in 1101 by Robert of Arbrissel and protected by the Counts of Anjou, this UNESCO-listed site was once the spiritual centre of the powerful Fontevrist Order and the final resting place of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II, and Richard the Lionheart. The abbey's 13-hectare complex includes a 4-star hotel and a Michelin-starred restaurant, Fontevraud L’Hermitage, led by Bocuse d'Or laureate Thibaut Ruggeri.
Accommodation:
Fontevraud L’Hermitage, the on-site 4-star hotel, offers 54 guest rooms with eco-conscious interiors and high-quality bedding. Set within a restored priory, room types include family suites, connecting rooms, twin options, and accessible accommodations. A Saturday night group rate of €190 per room includes all categories.
The hotel’s interiors are contemporary yet understated, maintaining visual harmony with the surrounding abbey architecture. Rooms reflect the venue’s emphasis on tranquility, comfort, and heritage preservation, offering guests a serene stay at the heart of a UNESCO-listed site.
Amenities:
Beyond accommodation, the abbey offers a diverse selection of privatized spaces for each part of the wedding. Aperitifs may be held in the Hotel Orchard, featuring a flute of Saumur sparkling wine and three gourmet canapés. Dinner is served in the Petit Réfectoire, a vaulted hall adjoining the restaurant, with a fully lunar-inspired Menu Lune and optional cheese or signature dishes. Wine pairing and exclusive room hire are available. Dance parties continue until 5:00 AM in either the Wine Bar (50 guests) or the Saint-Benoît Chapel (100 guests).
From Paris: Fontevraud is accessible in approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. Take a high-speed TGV train from Paris Montparnasse to Saumur (via Tours), followed by a 20-minute drive to the abbey.
From London: The fastest route is via Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, a transfer to Paris Montparnasse, then TGV to Saumur. Total travel time is approximately 6 hours, depending on connections.
As well as weddings, the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud provides a compelling venue for corporate seminars, gala dinners, artist residencies, and cultural events. The site’s multifunctional rooms, including conference-ready salons and heritage-rich halls, offer a setting conducive to both focus and creativity.
Professional meetings benefit from the peaceful monastic atmosphere, just a short drive from Saumur. Fontevraud’s 20th-century transformation into a Cultural Meeting Centre allows it to host exhibitions, lectures, and artistic programs year-round. Guests can also explore the Museum of Modern Art housed on-site, or extend their stay with tailored hospitality at Fontevraud L’Hermitage and its Michelin-starred restaurant.
Up to 60 guests
Sleeps up to 54 guests
In-house Chef
Chapel
LGBT Friendly
Disabled Facilities
Wifi Available
5am
Host your wedding within the historic walls of Fontevraud with a Michelin-starred dining experience, elegant reception rooms, and overnight accommodation options.
Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud offers couples the rare opportunity to marry within a UNESCO World Heritage Site steeped in over 900 years of history. With a Michelin-starred restaurant, an on-site 4-star hotel, and exclusive access to historic spaces such as the Petit Réfectoire and Saint-Benoît Chapel, it provides a wedding experience rich in cultural depth and architectural grandeur.
The “Mariage Étoilé” offer is designed for intimate weddings of up to 60 guests. Various spaces across the abbey site, including the vaulted dining rooms and privatized wine bar or chapel, allow for a seamless flow from ceremony to celebration within the same historic complex.
Yes, Fontevraud offers two distinctive spaces for a dance party: the intimate Wine Bar for up to 50 guests and the more expansive Saint-Benoît Chapel for up to 100 guests. Both options allow music until 5:00 AM and can be paired with bar services and entertainment arranged through the venue’s trusted partners.
Wedding receptions at Fontevraud feature a seasonal tasting menu crafted by Michelin-starred Chef Thibaut Ruggeri. Served in the atmospheric Petit Réfectoire room, the dining experience is guided by the lunar cycle, creating a menu that evolves every 29.5 days. Wine pairings and optional signature dishes offer additional ways to personalize the celebration.
Yes, Fontevraud L’Hermitage offers 54 guest rooms within the former priory, ranging from family and connecting rooms to accessible options. Interiors are eco-conscious and contemporary, while the setting maintains a peaceful, historic atmosphere, allowing guests to stay within the abbey grounds after the celebration.
Founded in 1101, Fontevraud was once the head of the powerful Fontevrist Order and later became the burial site for the Plantagenet royal family, including Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart. After centuries as a monastery and a 19th-century prison, it now serves as a cultural centre and historic venue open to the public.
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