Beauport Abbey at Paimpol Bay
Beauport Abbey, or Abbaye de Beauport, is situated on the edge of Paimpol Bay in the north of Brittany and is listed as a historical monument. It's a beautiful flower filled complex that is a popular place for locals to visit and is also a drawcard for tourists. It's not far from the fabulous harbour town of Paimpol which has a thriving marina surrounded by coloured buildings, busy cafés, boutique marine clothing stores, and summer carousels and ferris wheels.
Beauport Abbey is one of the finest preserved examples of religious architectural fervour, and was constructed in the 13th century overlooking the pristine waters of Paimpol Bay. I regularly go to Paimpol on my way to explore the coast, and often stop there for dinner on my way back home. The Abbey has been somewhere I've wanted to visit for a while, so a couple of weeks ago I did visit - and loved it! The summer flowers and blue skies were a perfect backdrop to the ancient Abbey buildings.
Domaine de Beauport (Beauport Estate)
The Beauport Estate covers a large area with woods, heath, farming lands, marsh and reed beds, coastline and gardens over more than 272 acres. Count Alain de Goëlo of the Penthièvre Bretons sovereign house, founded Notre-Dame de Beauport Abbey in 1202. The quiet sheltered bay on the Paimpol coast was chosen to commemorate his parents and provide a religious structure for the local population.
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Enter the Abbey Beauport ticket office and museum via the Lay Brothers Wing (centre of photo). Café to the left of photo.
Walking through both the restored buildings, the ruins and walled garden is a peaceful activity. With your map you can explore as you choose, and it's fun trying to imagine the complex with people, furniture and animals in it. Spring and summer give the best photo opportunities with all the hydrangea bushes in flower and apples hanging on the ancient apple trees in the orchard.
Climb the wooden stairs placed around the walled garden for stunning views of Paimpol Bay.
Overlooking Paimpol Bay from the Abbey
Farming lands belonging to Beauport Abbey beside Paimpol Bay
The Different Areas of Beauport Abbey, or Abbaye de Beauport
Below I've set out the rooms and areas of Beauport Abbey with a short description of what each was used for. I've added some photos that show the beauty of the Abbey and I hope you can feel the peace and calm that surrounds this spiritual place.
Lay Brothers Wing
The Lay Brothers Wing is where the lay brothers who were responsible for manual work and farming lived. The ground floor was the refectory and visiting room where the lay brothers received their daily orders from the canons. The dormitory was on the first floor.
Now the entrance to the Abbey and the Abbaye Boutique (Abbey gift shop) is in this long building. After purchasing your ticket you proceed to a little museum and then can start your self guided tour.
The cloister
The Cloister
The cloister galleries used to be covered forming a quadrangle enclosing a central lawn. A place for quiet contemplation and spiritual reflection, the cloisters were also a passageway connecting various parts of the abbey. Cloisters are a focal point of interest in abbeys for me and I always make sure that I don't miss seeing them.
Probably the most famous I've visited are those at Mont Saint-Michel. Read our essential guide to visiting Mont-Saint Michel.
The Abbey Church
Now open to the sky and missing what must have been a glorious roof, the church was inspired by the Gothic Norman Romanesque style. You'll see two carved tombstones laying side by side in the church, and while weathered by the seasons over the years, they are still lovely to look at.
The church was refurbished in the middle of the 18th century with the installation of marble and freestone altars. During the French Revolution the Abbey was confiscated and in 1790 the canons were forced to leave. Being empty and without necessary upkeep, the church roof collapsed.
The Sacristy
According to official guides, the original function of this room is unknown. It is known however that in the 17th century it was the sacristy and in the 19th century it was used as a classroom.
The Chapter House
Larger meetings were conducted here under the watchful eye of the Abbot. The canons also met here daily for readings and discussion on community life.
The outer space that links the Field Passage to the cloister
The Field Passage
This little corridor was how the lay brothers entered the cloister after they'd finished work in the fields, vegetable gardens and orchards. It now links a lovely outer space with plants and hydrangea bushes to the cloister.
The Ducal House
The Ducal House is where temporary exhibitions and events are held and I entered this building first accidentally thinking it was where you purchased tickets. Outside the abbatial enclosure, it is described as the building that most likely was used for visitor lodgings.
In the 17th century the Ducal House was heightened to accommodate another dormitory and a library was built under the eaves. It was known as the 'paradise'.
The Hydraulic Canal
I didn't make it to the hydraulic canal before closing time as I spent a while taking photos, reading the information plates that are located in many rooms explaining the space, and taking some quiet time to enjoy the apple orchard in the walled garden. Water was drawn from the estate's neighbouring ponds and would have been used for metal forging and the latrines on the first floor.
The large walled garden with its orchard. Climb the wooden ladder platform to view over the wall to Paimpol Bay, marshes and fields
Walled Garden
As I've mentioned, the orchard in the walled garden has apple trees, some of very rare varieties. The White Canons were well-known for their thriving cider production. The French style garden that you can see today is of 18th century origins. The walled garden is my favourite part of the Domaine de Beauport.
Cellars
The cellar is long and cool even on a hot summer's day. I noticed a couple of other visitors where hanging about in the cellar's fresh breeze on the hot day that we visited. Large enough to hold provisions for its residential community and visiting church dignitaries, it has a few nooks and alcoves that give it interest. Obviously I'm not sure what they would have been for, but I loved the cellar.
Looking towards the refectory walls. The cellar is underneath the refectory.
Refectory
Meals were taken in silence by the canons in this communal room while one of the brethren gave a reading from scripture. The lectern was against the south wall.
Kitchen
You can still see the fireplace which connected with the large chimney as you enter this space. There would have been large ovens and cupboards to accommodate the demand of food preparation. A serving hatch connects the kitchen to the refectory, and the kitchen is close to the cellars.
The café at Abbey Beauport
Food, drinks and toilets
Useful Information
The Abbey Beauport complex has handicap parking, toilets, parking for bikes, separate parking for camping cars and a very charming cafe. The site is located beside the GR34 which is the 2,000 km long breathtaking hiking trail, stretching the entire Breton coast. It extends from historic Mont-Saint-Michel to the vibrant town of Saint-Nazaire.
Address: Abbaye de Beauport, rue de Beauport, 22500 Paimpol - 40 minutes from Saint-Brieuc and 30 minutes from Guingamp
Official website for opening times, prices and temporary exhibition details: www.abbayebeauport.com
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