Even after its devastation under the ravages of the French Revolution, its surviving structures soon came to recognized a generation later by the acclaimed writer and historian Prosper Mérimée as a major example of the architecture of its era.
These canons, however, came to find the island too confining in terms of both their growth as a community and their style of ministry, based on their established experience in an urban environment.
[2] Facing the departure of the Victorine canons, the count decided to make use of an abandoned monastery dating from the 8th or 9th century which lay in his domaine on the mainland.
Additionally, he authorized an annual market day in the nearby town of Paimpol, the revenues from which were to be dedicated to the support of the canons, due to which it came to be called "Monks Fair".
Furthermore, two of the count's brothers, Conan and Geslin, as well as several other lords of the region pledged large amounts of lumber for the construction needed to revive the abbey.