Origin and history
The abbey of Fontaine-Daniel was founded in 1204 by Juhel III de Mayenne, local seigneur of Terre-Sainte, to assert his authority vis-à-vis the seigneurs of Laval and to offer a necropolis to his family. Originally established in La Herperie, near Bourgnouvel, it was transferred in 1205 on the banks of the Anvore, in the forest of Salair, at Saint-Georges-Buttavent. Juhel III richly gave the abbey land, mills, and feudal rights, confirmed by figures such as the Bishop of Mans, the Archbishop of Tours, and even Pope Gregory IX in 1226. The abbey, daughter of Clairvaux Abbey, quickly became a powerful religious and economic centre, with a church the size of Le Mans Cathedral.
In the 13th century, the abbey experienced a period of prosperity, marked by the construction of its monastery and church, partly financed by Isabelle de Meulan. The church, consecrated in 1243, became a burial place for local lords, including Juhel III himself. However, as early as the 15th century, the abbey was plagued by internal conflicts, notably with the introduction of the abbots under Louis XI, who weakened his religious spirit. Wars, like the Hundred Years' War, and English looting in the 16th century, worsened its situation.
The 16th and 17th centuries were marked by struggles between monks and trading abbots, often appointed by royal favor, which reduced the incomes and number of religious. Despite attempts at reform, such as that of 1549, abuses persisted. In 1608, a royal decree divided the abbey's property into two menses (one for the abbot, one for the monks), but this did not prevent conflicts. In the 18th century, the abbey, reduced to seven monks in 1789, was abolished by the French Revolution. Its buildings were sold as national property in 1791, and the church was destroyed in 1806.
The abbey was transformed into a cotton mill in 1806 by Parisian industrialists, the Horems, who exploited its motor power and large premises. This industrial site employed up to 760 workers in 1812. The archives of the abbey, burned in 1793, remain only partially thanks to earlier copies. Today, there are only remains classified as Historic Monument in 1927, including parts of the cloister, vaulted rooms, and 18th century facades.
The architecture of the abbey reflected its importance: a quadrilateral surrounded by convent buildings, a hotel, and a 60-metre-long church, decorated with radiant chapels added in the 15th century by Anne de Laval. The tomb of Juhel III, made of gold copper, crowned in the choir until its disappearance in 1784. The stalls of the church, transferred to Notre-Dame-des-Miracles de Mayenne, and an organ of 1784 still bear witness to its fascinating past. The woods, fishing rights, and abbey lands extended to Normandy, making it a major feudal power.
Conflicts with local lords, such as the Dukes of Mayenne or Cardinal Mazarin, marked his history. In 1658 Mazarin attempted to exchange goods with the abbey, but the contract was cancelled in 1678 after years of litigation. The monks, despite their numerical decline, continued their charitable works, distributing alms until the Revolution. Their departure in 1790 plunged local populations into distress, deprived of their aid. The present, though partial, remains recall the past influence of this Cistercian abbey in the Pays de la Loire.
