The Historic tales from the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud has been designed exclusively for you in partnership with the abbey. Accommodated in the royal courtyard, the course combines the delights of learning French in an exceptional setting with the pleasures of hands-on cultural workshops led by heritage experts. Programme example

A once in-a-lifetime experience awaits you in the Abbey !

35 hours of French :
12 hours of face to face and 23 hours of accompanied activities (for example the cultural workshops at the abbey).

About the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud :
A pioneering monk, Robert d’Arbrissel was a hermit devoted to prayers and poverty. Around 1100 he founded what was to become one of the wealthiest and impressive monastic settlements of the Christian West. With its 45 hectares and three priories, the community was run for 700 years by nuns under the protection of the king. Here is the chosen resting place of Henri II, King of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, his son Richard I and the wife of his other son King John, Isabella of Angoulême.

About the Centre Culturel de l’Ouest :
No deaths but life however now triumphs at Fontevraud. The Cultural Centre for the West was created 30 years ago; quickly offering cultural heritage workshops to history and architecture lovers. Numerous concerts are also staged there.

About the workshops :
For the abbey workshops we have brought in a selection of professional people who have an infectious enthusiasm for their work. Halia and Emmanuel will share their expertise in the exceptional setting of the abbey.

You will visit the abbey church, study its structure, build a wooden scale model and why not draw a pastel sketch of the apse. Little by little the abbey will reveal its secrets to you … even in French!

Dates and fees

Other group courses

Art de Vivre and culinary delights in Fontevraud

Local crafts and traditions discovery trail