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Origin and history

The Abbey of Notre-Dame de Boquen, located in Plénée-Jugon (Côtes-d)Armor, is a Cistercian abbey founded in 1137 by Olivier II de Dinan and his wife Agnorie de Penthièvre. Originally populated by monks from the Abbey of Bvis, it thrives thanks to the donations of local lords, including land, mills and fisheries. Its territory is organized around four barns (Plénée, Sévignac, Broons, Saint-Gouéno) and extends to Dinan and Moncontour. The abbey experienced its apogee in the 12th and 13th centuries, before being looted and declined from the 16th century under the regime of commende.

Sold as a national property in 1791, the abbey was bought by its last prior, Louis Josse, before being abandoned and used as a stone quarry. In 1936, Dom Alexis Presse, Cistercian monk, bought it and began its restoration, reviving monastic life. The church, classified as a historical monument in 1938, was rebuilt and rebuilt in 1965. After a period of controversial reforms under Bernard Besret (1965-1973), the abbey was entrusted to the Sisters of Bethlehem (1976-2011) and then to the community of Chemin Neuf since 2011.

Boquen architecture combines medieval elements and modern restorations. The 12th century Abbey has a typical Cistercian flat bedside, a three-ship nave and a transept marked by broken arches. The capitular room, partially preserved, has carved column arches. The convent buildings, rebuilt in the 20th century, now house an active religious community. The site, surrounded by forests and crossed by the Arguenon, illustrates the Cistercian ideal of isolation and autonomy.

Among the notable events, Gilles de Bretagne was buried there in 1450 after his assassination by his brother, Duke François I. In the 16th century, the wars of Religion and the beginning weakened the abbey: the lower sides of the church were demolished, and the monks dispersed. The restoration of the 20th century, led by Dom Alexis Presse, gives Boquen its spiritual role. Today, the abbey combines historical heritage and community life, perpetuating a nine-century monastic tradition.

Boquen's possessions extended well beyond its walls, including farms, town houses (Dinan, Moncontour) and fisheries. The monks, active until the 16th century, managed a prosperous agricultural and commercial estate. The Boquen forest, confiscated in 1665 by the king, and the unrest of the League (16th century) accelerated its decline. The Revolution finished dispersing its property, before the site was reborn thanks to the commitment of successive religious and communities, making Boquen a symbol of monastic resilience.

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