Located in the municipality of Magny-les-Hameaux, at the heart of the Upper Chevreuse Valley Regional Nature Park, the old abbey of Port-Royal-des-Champs has kept a few relics of its glorious past.
Founded in the 13th century, then destroyed in 1711 on the orders of Louis XIV, the abbey of Port-Royal was a major centre for Jansenism. Little remains of this prestigious monastery but in this vast estate of 30 hectares, visitors can nonetheless admire the ruins of the abbey church, the dovecote, the old mill and the 17th-century lodge of the Petites Écoles schools, which is now the National Museum of Port-Royal-des-Champs.
Formerly the Barns Museum (Musée des Granges), this place of memory is the focal point of the site. It houses collections of paintings, etchings and old structures that tell the story of the abbey and its conflicts with the monarchy. There you admire paintings by Philippe de Champaigne, a frequent visitor, and portraits from the 17th and 18th centuries, along with etchings depicting the estate in its former splendour.
The park has been enhanced by recreating the Barns' orchard in its original form, and by a group of educational and medicinal gardens. A lovely place for a stroll in a unique and well-preserved setting...
| Address | Les Granges de Port-Royal, Magny-les-Hameaux |
|---|---|
| Telephone | +33 1 39 30 72 72 |
| Official site | www.port-royal-des-champs.eu |
