Abbey of Notre-Dame de Pontlevoy

With the approval of Théodoric, Bishop of Chartres, Gelduin brought a community of monks from Saint-Florent Abbey of Saumur (Maine-et-Loire), placing them under the leadership of Abbot Ansbert. Geoffroy, Gelduin's son, together with other local lords, made further donations, enabling the monastery to develop rapidly into an important monastic centre. In 1075, King Philip I of France (1052–1108) confirmed its foundation and possessions. The abbey also became an important cultural centre, with a distinguished scriptorium and library.

After several unsuccessful attempts at reform, Pontlevoy joined the Congregation of Saint-Maur in 1631, at a time when the monastery was in serious decline. The Maurists not only carried out extensive rebuilding works but also established a school that enjoyed a great reputation throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In 1776 it became a military school. The monastery was suppressed in 1789, although the school remained in operation until 1793. During both the First and Second World Wars, the former monastery served as a relief centre, but it was damaged after the retreat of the German army. It is now a Catholic educational institution.