Porch and courtyard of the Abbey Royal at Saint-Jean-d'Angely in Charante France

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Founded in the ninth century to house a relic of Saint John the Baptist, and rebuilt in the 14th, 17th and 18th centuries because of repeated destruction, then later abandoned, the Abbey is now a listed building. It remains the most remarkable piece of architecture of Saint-Jean d'Angély, a town which has kept its medieval charm. Situated on the pilgrim route that led to Santiago de Compostela, the edifice still constitutes a major stopping-off point towards Santiago de Compostela. Since 1989, the Royal Abbey has housed the Centre of European Culture, which has breathed new life into the Abbey by restoring it as a historical and cultural site and as a place for the exchange of ideas. From 1989 to 1997, the restoration of the monastic buildings has been carried out according to the needs of the Centre of European Culture, with an emphasis placed on accommodations, catering, as well as rooms for conferences, reunions and workshops.

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Size: 3423px × 5165px
Location: Rue de l,Abbaye, Saint-Jean-d'Angely, Charente-Maritime, France
Photo credit: © David Jones / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: abbaye, abbey, baptist, blue, centre, charante, compostela, culture, de, entrance, european, eye, france, gate, john, maritime, monastery, pilgrim, poitou, route, royal, royale, saint, saint-jean-angely, santiago, travel