ST. NICHOLAS' ABBEY

Founded in 1627 for Benedictine nuns, the priory became a royal abbey in 1631. Numbering up to 80 nuns at the end of the ^19th century, the last nuns left the site in 2001. The abbey is surrounded by lush orchards and vegetable gardens, and was once famous for its "nonnettes", gingerbread buns made by the local women. Now owned by the Communauté de communes de Verneuil-sur-Avre, it is the subject of a major enhancement program, with an architecture and heritage center.