ABBEY OF FONTEVRAUD

In 1101, when Robert d'Arbrissel established his religious community at Fontevraud, the place was a "desert", but already humanized. Situated nearly three kilometres from the Loire valley, this little vale had the largest concentration of population because it was on the main line of communication. It was already partly assarted and farmed (as is testified by the texts of the first donations and recent diggings). The soil was fertile and water plentiful : the very name of the place is that of a spring "fons ebraldi", the fountain of Evraud (according to legend, Evraud was a bandit hiding in the neighbouring forest).