Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire The Abbey of Fleury

Around 672 monks of Fleury, on the Loire, brought back the relics of Saint Benedict, father of the monks of the West, from his abbey of Monte Cassino, which lay in ruins. The abbey took his name, and around the year 1000 its school and library were among the most famous in Europe.

The Romanesque church has an eleventh-century porch tower with carved capitals, and the relics of Saint Benedict rest in the crypt beneath the choir. Benedictine monks returned in 1944 and sing the Office in the church.

Further reading: Gregorian Chant in France: Monasteries Open to Pilgrims.

• The porch towerIts capitals carved in the eleventh century, among them scenes of the Apocalypse.
• The cryptThe relics of Saint Benedict, beneath the choir.
• Germigny-des-PrésNearby, a Carolingian oratory of 806 with a mosaic of the Ark of the Covenant.

• July 11; a feast in EuropeFeast of Saint Benedict

• Saint BenedictFather of the monks of the West, patron of Europe

• Via BenedictiThe Way of Saint Benedict, seven daysDay III, Fontgombault to Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire · Day IV, Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire to Vézelay

About two hours by road from Paris, or by train to Orléans and then about forty minutes by road.

• OrléansThe City Joan of Arc Set Free, about 19 miles as the crow flies
• ChartresThe Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Chartres, about 58 miles as the crow flies
• AuxerreThe Cathedral of Saint-Étienne, about 59 miles as the crow flies
• Ivry-sur-SeineThe House of Madeleine Delbrêl, about 69 miles as the crow flies