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Origin and history

The Abbey of Saint-Louis-du-Temple, called Limon, is a Benedictine monastery founded in the 20th century in the commune of Vauhallan (Essonne). She succeeded the Benedictine convent on Rue Monsieur in Paris, an influential community in French religious and cultural life since 1816. This priory, created by Princess Louise-Adelaide of Bourbon-Condé after his exile, was first installed in the Temple before being expelled in 1848, then relocated to rue Monsieur until World War I.

The current abbey was built in 1950 on an agricultural estate in Limon, after the purchase of a property in 1931. The first stone was laid by Angelo Roncalli, future Pope John XXIII, then apostolic nuncio. The buildings, organized around a rectangular cloister, combine stone and classic style. The church, dedicated in 1957, houses stained glass windows designed by the religious Geneviève Gallois, illustrating biblical scenes and psalms.

The abbey perpetuates monastic traditions while adapting to modern times. It has preserved historical elements, such as the castle of Limon transformed into a home, and houses two museums: one dedicated to its founder, Louise-Adelaide de Bourbon-Condé, and the other to Geneviève Gallois. Activities include a reputable binding workshop and, until the 1990s, a clinic. In 2008, there were 43 nuns in the community.

A stop on via Turonensis towards Santiago de Compostela, the abbey remains a spiritual and cultural centre. It swarmed in 1967 with the foundation of Notre-Dame-de-Fidelité Abbey in Jouques. Its history reflects the religious and social upheavals of France, from the Restoration to today, while embodying the continuity of Benedictine life.

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