The Abbey of Saint-Nicolas d’Angers was founded by the Count of Anjou, Fulk III Nerra (c. 965–1040). During a sea voyage to the Holy Land, when he found himself in danger, the count vowed to found a monastery in Angers if he survived, to be dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
Illustration fromAngers pittoresque (1843)
In 1020, Bishop Hubert consecrated the church and, between 1021 and 1022, a community arrived from the Abbey of Marmoutier (Indre-et-Loire), which in 1033 was replaced by monks from the nearby Abbey of Saint-Aubin d’Angers. Geoffrey II Martel (1006–1060), son of the founder, completed the buildings. In that same year, 1060, Geoffrey renounced his titles and retired to this place, where he died. In 1096, Pope Urban II dedicated the church of Saint-Nicolas. This first building was rebuilt during the 12th century.
In 1672, the monastery joined the Benedictine Congregation of Saint-Maur, which promoted the reconstruction of most of the buildings. At the time of the Revolution, when the house was suppressed, the community numbered only nine monks. In 1794, almost the entire church was demolished. During the 19th century, the site had various uses, both military and charitable. Today, the remains consist mainly of the 18th-century buildings, incorporating elements of earlier constructions, along with a few vestiges of the earliest period.
Monasticon Gallicanum
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Detail of Nouveau Plan de la Ville d'Angers (1736)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Detail of Plan historique de la ville d'Angers (1792)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
- BAUDRILLART, Alfred (1924). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques. Vol. 3. París: Letouzey et Ané
- BESSE, Jean-Martial (1920). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France, vol. 8, Tours. París : Picard
- ENGUEHARD, Henri (1964). L’abbaye Saint-Nicolas d’Angers. Congrès archéologique de France, 122 ss. Société française d'archéologie
- MAILFERT, Yvonne (1931). Fondation du monastère bénédictin de Saint-Nicolas d'Angers. Bibliothèque de l'École des Chartes, vol. 92. París: Picard
- PEIGNÉ-DELACOURT, Achille (1877). Monasticon Gallicanum. Paris: G. Chamerot
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1856). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 14. París: Typographia Regia
- TARDIF-DESVAUX (1843). Angers pittoresque. Angers: Cosnier et Lachèse
The monastery of Saint-Nicolas d’Angers stood to the west of the historic centre of Angers, on the right bank of the River Maine