l'Ermitage
Monastic minimalism meets contemporary French design. Clean lines, restrained colour palette, raw natural materials. No fuss, no excess — deliberate simplicity that feels luxurious. More meditative retreat than flashy hotel.
Book the restaurant well in advance — weeks or even months ahead in peak season. If fully booked, ask for the nomadic picnic basket dinner option served in the gardens.
Why It Matters
You're sleeping inside a 12th-century Royal Abbey that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel holds a Michelin Key and its on-site restaurant holds a Michelin Star. Exclusive after-hours access to the abbey grounds — after the day-trippers leave — is genuinely one-of-a-kind.
Fontevraud l'Ermitage is a 4-star hotel set inside the Saint-Lazare Priory of the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud — one of Europe's largest and best-preserved medieval abbey complexes, where Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II, and Richard the Lionheart are buried. The priory was transformed in 2014 by designers Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku into 54 rooms of stripped-back, monastery-inspired luxury: solid oak, wool carpets, 22-centimetre soundproofed walls, and bedding made entirely from natural materials. Guests get free access to the abbey grounds until 00:30 — wandering the cloisters and courtyards alone at night is the whole point of staying here.
Where You'll Stay
6 room types available
Classic Room
The entry-level category, but still inside a 900-year-old priory. Attic-style rooms perched at the top of the priory with views over the hotel's orchard. Compact but thoughtfully designed with the signature Jouin Manku aesthetic: solid oak furnishings, wool carpets, all-natural mattresses, and 22 cm soundproofed walls. Note: in-room spa services are not available in Classic rooms.
15 sqmComfort Room
The step up from Classic, described as an intimate upmarket cocoon. Designed with the same Jouin Manku approach — solid oak, wool carpets, custom-designed furniture — but with more breathing room and the addition of in-room spa service appointments. Feels quietly luxurious without shouting about it.
Emotion Room
The most spacious standard double category. Cathedral-height ceilings give the room real volume and light — the design intentionally echoes the scale of the Royal Abbey church. A place for daydreaming and relaxation, as the hotel puts it. Can be connected to an adjacent double or twin room on request, making it suitable for families needing more space.
20 sqmFamily Duplex
A two-floor duplex in the 'Liban' pavilion, designed for couples travelling with children. The ground floor has a cathedral-height living space with two sofa beds in an alcove and a separate toilet. A double bed (140cm) sits on the mezzanine with an en-suite shower room. Air-conditioned and well-located for garden access. Sleeps up to 2 adults and 2 children.
double + sofa bedsGarden Room
Ground-floor room in the 'Liban' pavilion with a private terrace giving direct, immediate access to the garden. Air-conditioned — one of the few room categories that has it. Faces east for first light in the morning. Solid oak, wool carpets, and the custom Jouin Manku design throughout.
Suite (Office or Lounge)
The hotel's top suite category, accommodating up to three guests. Combines a lounge or office space with the same signature materials — solid oak, wool carpets, custom Jouin Manku design — at the grandest scale the priory offers.
The Property
Eat & Drink
5 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Rent bikes directly from the hotel via the Roulici service for independent exploration of Fontevraud and the Loire Valley. Book online or at reception. Half-day and full-day options available.
Domaine de Roiffe Golf Course is 3.6 km from the hotel. The hotel can assist with arrangements.
Horse treks through the surrounding Loire Valley countryside can be arranged on prior request through the hotel.
A well-lit fitness area overlooking the garden, set under a veranda. Equipment includes a rowing machine, indoor bike, free weights, and floor mats. Open 24 hours a day for hotel guests at no charge. Access to the orchard lawn for outdoor exercise.
Join a scheduled group guided tour of the Royal Abbey. Covers the overall history of the site with focus options on the monastic or penitentiary periods. Arrive 15 minutes before departure at the ticket office.
Located within the wider Fontevraud complex (opened 2021 in the Fannerie building), the museum holds over 800 works donated by collectors Martine and Léon Cligman — paintings, drawings, sculptures, and antiquities from Africa, Oceania, Asia, and the Americas. Not included in room rate; purchased at the ticket office.
The defining perk of staying here. Hotel guests have free access to the Royal Abbey grounds — church, cloisters, gardens — until 00:30. After the day visitors leave, you can wander the 12th-century spaces alone. Entry to the museum is not included (purchased separately at the ticket office).
A personal guide takes you through the history of Fontevraud — the medieval community, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Plantagenet effigies, the Romanesque kitchens, the prison years. Tours last approximately 1 hour. Groups of 1–8 people. Minimum booking 72 hours in advance.
The former Gothic chapel has been converted into a bar with touchscreen tabletops and digital tablets. Abbey history games, quizzes, and a digital library available alongside Saumur sparkling wine and other drinks. Accessible to all visitors.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
5 rooms on the ground floor reserved for guests with reduced mobility. The hotel and Museum of Modern Art are accessible for PRMs. Wheelchairs can be borrowed by prior arrangement. Easy-to-read FALC booklets available on request.
Extensive event and meetings facilities: 2,437 sqm across 8 rooms, accommodating up to 800 people. Rooms include historic spaces such as the apothecary lounge and small refectory. Natural lighting, garden views. Suitable for seminars, weddings, conferences, and corporate events. Themed event options include guided abbey tours and food-and-wine experiences.
Pets are not permitted, with the exception of guide and assistance dogs.
The hotel does not have a swimming pool.
The property is classified as a historic monument and most rooms are non-air-conditioned. Only the Garden Room and Family Duplex in the 'Liban' pavilion are air-conditioned. Fans are available on request; some guests have found rooms hot in summer.
Luggage storage available for guests.
Room service available around the clock.
Each room has an iPad pre-loaded as an interactive guide to the hotel and abbey, functioning as remote control for the TV and communication tool with reception and room service.
Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the property.
Free private car park accessed via rue Saint-Jean de l'Habit. Intercom at the gate connects to reception. No reservation needed.
A recharging point is available for hotel guests in the car park.
BUILD YOUR FONTEVRAUD L'ERMITAGE PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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