The Loire Valley in France is home to some of the world's most beautiful castles and impressive wine regions. And, it also plays host to the largest abbey in all of Europe - Fonteyraud Abbey.
Fonteyraud itself dates back to the 12th century, and once housed thousands of nuns before Napoleon saved it from destruction, repurposing it as a penitentiary in 1804. The abbey continued to house prisoners until 1985, but it has now become a cultural center that houses concerts, exhibits and artist residencies.
What's more, it's is also now the home of a truly stunning hotel, the Fontevraud L'Hôtel, which makes use of the abbey's historic structure and monastic details, including archways and impressively high ceilings.
The hotel's decor is full of modern furniture and clean lines that highlight, not detract from, the space's architectural past. My Domaine recently shared a series of photos that provide a virtual walk-through of the Fonteyraud - take a tour of the beauty below and click over to their site for even more images.
