Tiled floor, Chapter House, Fontevraud Abbey

Tiled chequerboard floor, aerial view, in the Salle Capitulaire or Chapter House at Fontevraud Abbey, Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, Loire Valley, Maine-et-Loire, France. Among the tile patterns are the initials RB of Renee de Bourbon, 1494-1539, abbess of Fontevraud, and a crowned winged L, symbol of Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud 1534-75, and the Bourbon-Vendome family. The Chapter House was built in the 16th century and its walls were painted in 1563 with frescoes of scenes from Christ's Passion by the Anjou artist Thomas Pot. The abbey itself was founded in 1100 by Robert of Arbrissel, who created the Order of Fontevraud. It was a double monastery for monks and nuns, run by an abbess. The abbey is listed as a historic monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Picture by Manuel Cohen

Picture No

13422904

Media ID

45110898

Size

4553px x 2898px (5.3MB)

Credit

Manuel Cohen / Mary Evans

Source

Photograph by Manuel Cohen