Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The royal abbey of Epau, founded between 1229 and 1230 by Berengère de Navarre, widow of Richard Coeur de Lion, is part of a Cistercian family tradition. The Queen, after losing her husband and without heir, took refuge in France and obtained from King Philippe Auguste the seigneury of Le Mans in exchange for her dowry. In 1228, Louis IX gave him the land of the Empau, near the Huisne River, where she decided to build an abbey to mark her legacy. Twelve monks of Cîteaux, led by Abbé Jean, settled there in 1230, following the Benedictine rule of prayer, work and autarcia. The first works, using local materials like the russard, begin with the church, while the monks sanitize the surrounding swamps.

The abbey was built over several decades, with a gothic countryside between 1260 and 1320 to embellish the church. Despite partial destruction during the Hundred Years War (c. 1365), probably to prevent its use by the English, the abbey was restored thanks to royal funds. In the 15th century, Abbé Guillaume de Bonneville revived his influence, while in the 16th century the introduction of the abbots by Louis XI plunged the monastery into internal conflicts. The 17th and 18th centuries saw major developments, such as the transformation of the refectory into living rooms and the disappearance of the church arrow.

The French Revolution marked a turning point: the abbey, sold as a national property in 1790, became a laundry and then a farm. His layr, rediscovered in 1816 by an Englishman, was transferred to Le Mans Cathedral in 1821. In the 20th century, the General Council of the Sarthe bought and restored the site (from 1959), giving life to this heritage. Since 1965, the abbey has been hosting cultural events, including the classical music festival in the Epau, and hosting meetings of the departmental council. Recent excavations (2019) have attempted, without success, to locate the original burial of Berengère.

The architecture of the Epau reflects its turbulent history: the capitular hall (IX spans), the vaulted scriptorium, or the 14th century frescoes alongside elements of the 18th century such as wrought iron parlors. Berengère's gissant, studied in 2018, reveals a royal iconography (crown, lion) and a chaplain symbolizing his generosity. Today run by Sarthe Culture, the abbey combines heritage preservation and cultural animation, perpetuating its link with the territory and its Cistercian past.

Fidelity and dependencies also mark its history: daughter of the Abbey of Cîteaux, the Epile has links with Perseigne, another Cistercian foundation in Maine. Commendatary abbots, such as Thomas des Captaines (appointed in 1479), or conflicts with regular monks (ex. Jean Tafforeau) illustrate internal tensions. The burials, like that of Jean de la Rivière (1327), underline his role as necropolis for the local aristocracy. Finally, elements such as the chestnut frame (XV century) or the rosette bear witness to its stylistic evolution, between Cistercian austerity and Gothic embellishments.

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