french historical monuments | A French Collection

Beauport Abbey at Paimpol Bay

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.

Grand Palais, Paris

In 1892 the President of the French Republic, Sadi Carnot, decided to organise the 1900 Universal Exhibition (or World Fair) in Paris, so he put into action the building of both the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais. The two palaces were designed together with the intention of extending the perspective of the Invalides on the Right Bank. With work beginning on the Grand Palais in 1897, it was an immense project to complete by the 1900 World Fair.

Institut de France

Sitting elegantly opposite the Pont des Arts (or Bridge of Arts), is the Institut de France. The Institut is the headquarters of five French intellectual academies, of which the most famous is l'Académie Française.

The grand cupola-topped building in baroque style is a stunning sight when seen from le Pont des Arts, also known as Passerelle des Arts. This bridge is a pedestrian bridge which links the Institut de France with the Cour Carrée (central square) of the Palais du Louvre. The whole area has been associated with art and culture since the First French Empire when the Palais du Lourve was also known as the Palais des Arts.