Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud

The abbey was closed and then became a prison during the French Revolution. It is now the site of various cultural activities and has re-created medieval gardens using the plants from Charlemagne's Capitulare de villis. This book is one of the most important sources of information on medieval gardens. Composed in c771–800 Charlemagne also sets out how to manage other aspects of a monastic estate. The re-created medieval garden is part of what is said to be Europe's largest monastery.