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Voykit pocket guide · France
Fontevrault
Fontevraud-l'Abbaye
Half a day for the abbey and its Plantagenet tombs, then move on. One night if you want to cycle the Loire or visit nearby châteaux.
Fontevrault is a small town in the Loire Valley best known for the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, burial site of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart. The abbey is the only reason to stop; the town itself has little else. Most travellers visit as a day trip from Saumur, Chinon or Tours, or as a stop on a Loire cycling route.
- Country
- France
- Local name
- Fontevraud-l'Abbaye
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (crowded, hot)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–150 excl. bed · High €150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18 · European emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–3 |
| Lunch menu (plat du jour) | €12–18 |
| Beer (demi) | €4–6 |
| Abbey entry | €12 (check) |
| Bicycle hire (half day) | €20 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TUF · Tours Val de Loire
- About 1 h 15 min by car; limited flights.
- NTE · Nantes Atlantique
- About 1 h 30 min by car; more connections.
Typical fares
- Taxi Saumur → Fontevrault
- about €25–35
- Train Saumur → Tours
- about €10–15, 30 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is walkable. For the abbey and nearby châteaux, a car or bicycle is needed. Bicycle hire available in Saumur.
See and do
Known for
- Royal Abbey of Fontevraud (Plantagenet tombs)
- Eleanor of Aquitaine's effigy
- Loire Valley cycling
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saumur | Car, 15 min; or bike along the Loire | 20 min |
| Chinon | Car, 20 min | 25 min |
| Tours | Car, 1 h; or train from Saumur | 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Fontevrault village
- A handful of B&Bs and a hotel near the abbey; quiet after 20:00.A handful of B&Bs and a hotel near the abbey; quiet after 8:00 PM.
- Saumur
- 15 min drive; more restaurants and hotels.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-bee-EN sa koot |
| Where is the abbey? | Où est l'abbaye ?oo ay la-bay |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtla-dee-SYON, seel voo play |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Abbey ticket office closes earlier than the site; check the official site for seasonal hours.
- No ATM in the village; bring cash for small purchases.
- Cycling routes are flat but can be windy; check wind forecast.
Very safe. Watch for cyclists on the narrow village roads and for pickpockets in crowded abbey spaces during peak season.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Fontevrault yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Royal Abbey of Fontevraud (Plantagenet tombs)
- Eleanor of Aquitaine's effigy
- Loire Valley cycling
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Fontevraud Abbey official site: www.fontevraud.fr/
- Wikivoyage: Fontevrault, revision 5092687 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5092687
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
FontevraultFontevraud-l'Abbaye
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most embassies are in Paris. The nearest consulates are in Nantes (check).
No ATM in Fontevrault; bring cash.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/fontevrault). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.