L'Épau Abbey

L'Épau Abbey
Entrance to the Chapter House
CountryFrance
DenominationCistercians
History
Founded1229
Founder(s)Berengaria of Navarre

L'Épau Abbey (French: Abbaye de l'Épau) is a former Cistercian abbey founded by the English queen Berengaria of Navarre in 1229. It is located on the outskirts of the city of Le Mans, on the left bank of the Huisne, adjoining the town of Yvré-l'Évêque. The abbey was suppressed in the French Revolution. The surviving buildings came close to destruction on several occasions, but their preservation was finally assured in 1958 by the General Council of the Sarthe department.