171, Mériel, France, l'Abbaye Notre Dame du Val: twelfth century Cistercians

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 My rambling club took me to this place an hour's drive from Paris. Slightly exceptional post, because I usually visit functioning churches full of liturgical furniture, noticeboards and statues. This is a disused abbey, which actually was bought by a wealthy family who are having it done up, but who sometimes allow heritage groups and rambling clubs to have a gander. Set up by the then fashionableCistercians in the twelfth century, it had a rough time during the hundred years’ war. The abbey used to be really rich and own thousands of acres, vineyards, mills etc. The monks’ living quarters, dormitory, sacristy etc are still standing. Be careful, some of the "stained glass" photographed here is fake, made for a film set.




































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