ROYAL ABBEY OF EPAU

A must-see tourist attraction on the outskirts of Le Mans.

On the death of King Richard the Lionheart, his widow, Queen Berengaria of Navarre, settled in Le Mans in 1204 and became "Lady of Le Mans". At the end of her life, Bérengère decided to found an abbey to rest in after her death. Acquiring the land for the foundation was difficult. The situation was resolved when the King of France, Saint Louis (or Louis IX), gave her the land of Épau (or Espal). Construction began around 1230, but Queen Berengaria passed away in December 1230, never to see the abbey during her lifetime.

Faithful to the Cistercian tradition, the religious edifice is sober and uncluttered, leaving room for contemplation and meditation

The jewel in the abbey's crown is the recumbent statue (^13th-century funerary sculpture) of its founder, now on display in the choir of the abbey church.

During the French Revolution, the site was sold as national property. Saved from certain ruin by the Département de la Sarthe, which acquired it in 1959, the site has undergone numerous restoration campaigns since then, some of which continue to this day. The abbey was listed as a Monument Historique in 1973.

The abbey has become a major cultural venue in the Sarthe region, hosting a wide range of cultural events (temporary exhibitions, artistic encounters, concerts, shows, festivals, etc.).