It was built between 1228 and 1235 with the support of Louis IX. Several members of the French Royal family were buried here (and not in Saint Denis Basilica), for example, three children and two grandchildren of Louis IX.

The abbey was dissolved in 1791 during the French Revolution and the stones were partly used to build a factory. However, the sacristy, cloister, and refectory remained intact.

In 1836 and 1838, respectively, two operas by German composer Friedrich von Flotow opened at Royaumont—Sérafine and Le Comte de Saint-Mégrin.

In the early 20th century, the abbey was bought by the Goüin family who in 1964 created the Royaumont Foundation, the first private French cultural foundation. Today, the abbey is a tourist attraction and also serves as a cultural centre.

The abbey was used as a filming location for the Catholic boarding school in Jean Delannoy's Les amitiés particulières.

External links

• Official site of the Royaumont Foundation
• Photos of the abbey
• Romanes.com: abbey pictures
• Photos of the abbey (wanadoo.fr)
• More photos (flickr.com)
• Abbaye de Royaumont