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Origin and history

The Abbey of Royallieu came into being in 1308, when King Philippe the Bel founded a priory under the name of Saint-Louis de Royallieu, entrusted to the Augustine canons. Fired in 1334 but spared during the siege of Compiègne in 1430, this priory gradually declined before being attached in 1624 to the Congregation of France. His history changed in 1634, when the religious exchanged with the Benedictines of Saint-Jean-aux-Bois, marking the beginning of his female monastic vocation.

Under the direction of the Benedictine nuns, the abbey underwent a major restoration campaign in 1692, affecting the church and the convent buildings. A tragic episode marked its history in August 1765, when Dauphin Louis, the future Louis XVI, contracted a fatal illness after a visit on the spot. The French Revolution ended its religious existence: in October 1792 the community was dispersed, and the abbey turned into a military hospital. His tombstones and furniture were then transferred to the parish church of Saint-Germain-lès-Compiègne in 1793.

In the 19th century, the estate passed into private hands, including that of Étienne Balsan, who welcomed Coco Chanel in the 1900s. The site, partially preserved, was listed as historical monuments in 1947 and 1949 for its remaining architectural elements: housing building, entrance pavilion, dovecote, and decorative remains. Today, it bears witness to eight centuries of religious, political and social history, from Augustine canons to Benedictine nuns, as well as its military and worldly role.

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