Royal Abbey of Our Lady of Chaalis

About

The royal abbey of Chaalis is a former Cistercian abbey located in Fontaine-Chaalis, in the centre of the Ermenonville forest, opposite the leisure park La Mer de sable, in the department of l'Oise, in the Hauts-de-France region, about forty kilometers northeast of Paris, near Senlis. It was founded in 1136 by the king of France Louis VI le Gros and entrusted to the monks of Pontigny Abbey. A large abbey was built in the early 13th century and benefited from considerable donations and favors.

The abbey became an important economic and intellectual center, welcoming several times the kings of France and having several intellectuals among its members. It also has a very large number of outbuildings in the form of monastic barns which help to secure its colossal income. After a period of decline in the late Middle Ages, the abbey experienced a period of artistic renaissance with its first trading abbots from Italy.

Hippolyte d'Este invites artists such as Sebastiano Serlio or Le Primatice. In the 18th century, new convent buildings were built under the direction of the architect...