Asnières Abbey

Asnières Abbey (French: Abbaye d'Asnières) is a former Benedictine monastery in Cizay-la-Madeleine, Maine-et-Loire, France.

[1] The wooded site, owned by Giraud II Berlai, Lord of Montreuil (Montreuil-Bellay), was initially granted to the monks of Saint-Nicolas d'Angers.

In 1133, Giraud II Berlai brought rich gifts to Asnières for the construction of a new church for the burial of the lords of Montreuil.

The abbey was pillaged in 1569 by the Huguenots:[2] 30 monks were massacred, the roofs burned down along with the bell tower, and the cloister disappeared along with the refectory and dormitory.

Since April 9, 2014, Asnières Abbey has been privately owned, purchased by politician Alain Suguenot and his wife.

Plan of the abbey church with reconstruction of the nave ( French Archaeological Congress, 1910 )