The small character town of Celles-sur-Belle, nestling at the heart of Poitou, on the Way of St. James, is famous for its royal abbey. An old priory turned into an abbey by the Bishop of Poitiers in 1137, the Abbey of Celles-sur-Belle was rebuilt in the 15th century on the orders of King Louis XI, then rebuilt in the 17th century by the architect François le Duc aka Toscane.
Boasting an imposing bell tower porch and a light-filled nave, the Abbey Church of Our Lady has conserved a splendid relic of the first construction in its narthex: a remarkable Romanesque door, influenced by the Oriental style, with six multilobed arches!
Overlooking both the Belle Valley and beautiful French-style gardens, the majestic 17th-century convent buildings in the Louis XIV style house a museum where you can see the Abbot's room, a recreated monk's cell, and collections of religious objects and ecclesiastical clothing.
There are also many cultural activities and a classical music festival in July-August.
