Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Our World Tuesday

The Abbey of Fontevraud was founded in 1101 and was a monastic city run by women. The abbesses all came from aristocratic or royal families because they knew how to manage a big household. Eleonor of Aquitane spent many years here and was a great supporter. Her tomb and that of her husband Henry II and her son Richard Lionheart are in the Abbey.
Eleonor was an amazing woman, very learned, ambitious, headstrong and powerful.



Eleonor died in 1204 at the age of 82! She survived most of her children. 



The Fontevraud Abbey is a beautiful building situated in the Pays de la Loire/France




Richard Lionheart



The abbey was closed after the French Revolution... the people went mad and destroyed a lot which had even the remotest connection with anything royal. Napoleon turned Fontevraud into a prison, the last prisoner was discharged in 1985. 


Our World Tuesday Graphic



10 comments:

  1. That building huge and beautiful and so much history is involved with it.

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  2. Beautiful! At least it wasn't completely destroyed. I wonder how it looked originally.

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  3. I do love history. That first shot is lovely!

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  4. Fascinating post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  5. Well fancy finding you and your beautiful photos here. Lucky you for visiting Fontevraud, in France. Wonderful post. The Abbey founded in 1101 that is a mega long time ago by Aussie standards, so always a treat to travel back in time!
    Wrenx

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  6. These muted tones of the architecture and sculptures are beautiful.

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  7. That was really interesting. From an abbey to a prison ... What an evolution.

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  8. Jetzt kommen bei mir Erinnerungen hoch ... wunderschöne Perspektive beim Bild von Eleonor! Und die Makros von gestern sind auch wunderwunderschön. Kommt mir ewig her vor ...

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  9. You're like me I bet...could spend hours photographing in these abbeys! The first capture really emphasizes her hands/book...showcasing "very learned, ambitious, headstrong and powerful." Nice!

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