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Origin and history

The Royal Abbey of Notre-Dame du Lys, founded in 1244 by Blanche de Castille and Saint Louis, is a Cistercian abbey of nuns located in Dammaria-les-Lys, on the banks of Seine-et-Marne. It embodies the climax of the order of Cîteaux in the 13th century, a period marked by the creation of many female monasteries. Its funding, provided by Louis IX, and its initial project, led by Blanche de Castille, reflect a unique maternal and royal collaboration. The first abbess, Alix de Vienne, already founder of the priory Saint-Eloi, plays a central role in his establishment.

The official foundation charter dates from June 1248, but works began in 1244, as evidenced by the purchase of land by Guérin Lysenet. The abbey, a place of pilgrimage for the kings of France until Louis XVI, declined from the 18th century. The French Revolution accelerated its fall: looted, turned into an oxen enclosure in 1790, then sold as a national property in 1796 to a Swiss, Samuel Legoux. Its ruins, classified as Historic Monument in 1930, are now integrated into a municipal park.

Blanche de Castille, withdrawn from Melun before his death in 1252, has his heart buried, symbolizing his attachment to the place. The abbey also hosts historical figures like Marie Mancini, niece of Mazarin, locked up on royal order. In the 21st century, the site, although ruined, remains a strong heritage symbol for Dammaria-les-Lys, with its remains highlighted and its silhouette taken up in the communal logo. The nearby abbey house now houses the Didier Lockwood Music Centre.

The decline of the abbey is explained by the common practice and revolutionary upheavals. In 1791, the nuns, divided by internal conflicts, gradually left the place. The buildings, dismantled for their lead and stones, are gradually escaping total destruction by private individuals. The site, passed into the hands of personalities such as the general of La Tour-Maubourg, was finally ceded to the commune in 1947.

The Abbey of Lys also illustrates 13th century Cistercian women's architecture, with a church and regular buildings designed for a community of nuns. Its history reflects the tensions between royal power, religion and heritage, as well as the social changes of the Revolution. Today, its ruins, surrounded by a park, attract visitors and serve as a setting for audiovisual productions, such as the show Secrets d'Histoire in 2018.

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