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Origin and history

The Abbey of Saint-Père, located in Melun in Seine-et-Marne, is one of the oldest monasteries in the city, founded in the early Middle Ages and raised by Hugues Capet in 991. After successive destructions (the Hundred Years War in 1420, the League in 1590), it was partially rebuilt in 1598, with an abbey house rebuilt in 1629. The Maurists carried out important works there between 1644 and 1688, but the abbey declined in the 18th century before being sold as a national property in 1791.

In the 19th century, the former abbey was divided: the abbey became the prefecture, while the convent buildings housed the General Council. The abbey church was demolished in 1818, and the house was thoroughly renovated between 1864 and 1874. Today, only the southern side of the cloister and the garden of the ancient abbey house remain, classified as historical monuments in 1946.

The building, located on Rue des Saints-Pères in Melun, illustrates the evolution of a medieval monastery into an administrative institution. The facades, arcades and roofs of the cloister have been protected since 1946, while the whole is included in the General Inventory of Cultural Heritage. The Abbey remains a symbol of local ecclesiastical and political power, from its medieval foundation to its contemporary use.

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