Abbey of Notre-Dame du Ronceray

The monastery received daughters of the nobility and benefited from important donations, which made it a notable and powerful centre. During the first half of the 15th century, Notre-Dame-de-la-Charité and the priories dependent on it suffered from the effects of the Hundred Years’ War, as did the town of Angers itself. From 1527 onwards, the monastery was also known as Ronceray, in reference to a bramble (ronce) said to have grown in the crypt, rediscovered at that time. In the 16th century it was affected by the Wars of Religion, and from the mid-century the abbesses began to be appointed by royal authority.

Although the two churches—the abbey church and that of La Trinité—as well as the monastic buildings, have undergone significant alterations over time—especially after the departure of the community—the bulk of the structures has been preserved and restored in recent years. The abbey church had three aisles, with a transept and three apses; the north aisle was affected by the construction of the present cloister. It has a crypt of early origin, now much altered. The chancel is adjoined to the parish church of La Trinité, of similar dimensions, with a single nave and three apses.