This is a list of Benedictine monasteries, extant and non-extant, in the present territory of France. It includes both monks and nuns following the Rule of Saint Benedict, excluding the Cistercians, for whom see List of Cistercian monasteries in France. Some monasteries however belonged at various times in their histories to both the Benedictines and the Cistercians.
At different times these religious houses have formed various orders, congregations or groups, of which the main ones, as far as French monasteries are concerned, are the following: the Order of Cluny (Cluniacs) the Camaldolese (now within the Benedictine Confederation) the Olivetans (now within the Benedictine Confederation) the Celestines (now within the Benedictine Confederation) the Order of Chalais the Order of Fontevraud (Fontevristes) the Congregation of Tiron the Congregation of La Chaise-Dieu (Casadéens) the Congregation of Saint-Victor (Victorines) the Bursfelde Congregation the Alsace Congregation the Cassinese Congregation (now within the Benedictine Confederation) the Congregation of Chezal-Benoît the Congregation of the Exempts of Flanders the Congregation of the Exempts of France the Société de Bretagne the Congregation of St. Vanne (Vannistes) the Congregation of St. Maur (Mauristes) the English Benedictine Congregation in exile (1612–1791)The English Congregation returned to England because of the French Revolution and now forms part of the Benedictine Confederation the Congregation of the Allobroges the Affligem group the Solesmes Congregation (now within the Benedictine Confederation; formerly known as the Congrégation de France) the Subiaco Congregation (now within the Benedictine Confederation) the Fédération du Coeur Immaculé de Marie
The dates in brackets indicate the start and end dates of an abbey's status as a Benedictine monastery, which are not necessarily the same as the dates of its foundation or suppression. All religious houses in France were suppressed during the French Revolution, most of them in 1791. Some communities were revived, and many more new ones established, during the 19th century, but were forced to leave France by anti-clerical legislation during the 1880s (principally the Ferry Laws), and again in the first decades of the 20th century under the Association Act, 1901 (the Waldeck-Rousseau Law).
Abbeys and independent priories currently in operation are indicated by bold type.
Dependent priories are not generally noted in this list, except for a few unusually significant ones.
__NOTOC__
A L'Absie Abbey (Abbaye de l'Absie-en-Gâtine), Diocese of La Rochelle (L'Absie-en-Gâtine, Deux-Sèvres) Abbey of L'Absie-en-Brignon, see Abbey of La Sie Ahun Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Étienne d'Ahun), monks, Diocese of Limoges (Moutier-d'Ahun, Creuse) Ainay Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Martin d'Ainay), monks, Diocese of Lyon (Ainay, Lyon)Ainay Abbey website Alet Abbey (Abbaye d'Alet or Abbaye Sainte-Marie d'Alet), monks (Alet-les-Bains, Aude)the precursor of Alet Cathedral Les Alleuds Abbey (Abbaye des Alleuds), monks, Diocese of Poitiers (Les Alleuds, Maine-et-Loire) Les Allois Abbey (Abbaye des Allois), nuns, Diocese of Limoges (La Geneytouse, Haute-Vienne) Almenêches Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Almenêches), nuns, Diocese of Séez (transferred to Argentan in 1736) (Almenêches, Orne) Altorf Abbey (Abbaye d'Altorf), monks, Diocese of Strasbourg (Altorf, Bas-Rhin) Ambronay Abbey otherwise Ambournay Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Ambronay or d'Ambournay), monks, Diocese of Lyon (803-1787) (Ambronay, Ain) Anchin Abbey (Abbaye d'Anchin), monks, Diocese of Arras (Pecquencourt, Nord) Andecy Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Andecy), nuns, Diocese of Châlons-sur-Marne (Baye, Marne) Andernes Abbey (Abbaye d'Andernes), monks, Diocese of Boulogne-sur-Mer (Andernes near Guînes, Pas-de-Calais) Andlau Abbey (Abbaye d'Andlau),formerly sometimes Andlaw nuns, Diocese of Strasbourg (Andlau, Bas-Rhin) Angers (Maine-et-Loire), Diocese of Angers: Abbaye Notre-Dame du Ronceray d'Angers, see Ronceray Abbey of St Aubin, Angers (Abbaye Saint-Aubin d'Angers), monks, (966-?) Abbey of St Nicholas, Angers (Abbaye Saint-Nicolas d'Angers) (1020-?) Abbey of St. Sergius, Angers (Abbaye Saint-Serge d'Angers), monks Abbey of Saint-Pierre-les-Nonnains Angoulême (Charente), Diocese of Angoulême: Abbey of St Ausonius, Angoulême (Abbaye Saint-Ausone d'Angoulême), nuns Abbey of St Cybard, Angoulême (Abbaye Saint-Cybard d'Angoulême), monks Aniane Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Sauveur d'Aniane), monks, Diocese of Maguelonne, later Diocese of Montpellier (782-?) (Aniane, Hérault) Arcisses Abbey (Abbaye d'Arcisses), nuns, Diocese of Chartres (Arcisses in Brunelles, Eure-et-Loir) Argentan Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Argentan), nuns (transferred from Almenêches 1736; dispersed during the French Revolution; reassembled at Vimoutiers in 1822; returned to Argentan in 1830 and 1958; refugees in Sées from 1944 to 1958) (Argentan, Orne)Diocese of Séez website: Argentan Abbey Argenteuil Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Argenteuil), nuns (Argenteuil, Val-d'Oise) Abbey of St Caesarius, Arles (Abbaye Saint-Césaire d'Arles), nuns, Diocese of Arles (Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône) Abbey of St Mary, Arles-sur-Tech (Abbaye Sainte-Marie d'Arles-sur-Tech), monks, Diocese of Perpignan (Arles-sur-Tech, Pyrénées-Orientales) Arpajon Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Arpajon), nuns, Diocese of Vabres although physically located within the territory of the Diocese of Rodez (Arpajon-sur-Cère, Cantal) Abbey of St Vaast, Arras (Abbaye Saint-Waast d'Arras), monks, Diocese of Arras (Arras, Pas-de-Calais) Artecelle Abbey, see La Celle Abbey Asnières Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Asnières or Asnières-Bellay), monks, Diocese of Angers (1129-?) (Cizay-la-Madeleine, Maine-et-Loire)Asnières Abbey website Auchy Abbey otherwise Aumale Abbey (Abbaye d'Auchy or Saint-Martin d'Auchy or d'Aumale), monks, Diocese of Rouen (Aumale, Seine-Maritime
Auchy Abbey (Abbaye d'Auchy-les-Moines), monks, Diocese of Boulogne-sur-Mer (Auchy-lès-Hesdin, formerly known as Auchy-les-Moines, Pas-de-Calais) Aumale Abbey, see Auchy Abbey Aurillac Abbey (Abbaye d'Aurillac), monks, Diocese of Clermont (about 896-1561) (Aurillac, Cantal) Autun (Saône-et-Loire), Diocese of Autun: Abbey of St. Andoche, Autun (Abbaye Saint-Andoche d'Autun), nuns Abbey of Saint-Jean-le-Grand (Abbaye Saint-Jean-le-Grand d'Autun), nuns Abbey of St. Martin, Autun (Abbaye de Saint-Martin d'Autun), monks Abbey of St. Symphorian, Autun (Abbaye de Saint-Symphorien d'Autun), monks Auxerre (Yonne), Diocese of Auxerre: Abbey of Saint-Germain d'Auxerre (Abbaye Saint-Germain d'Auxerre), monksMinistère de la Culture: L'Abbaye Saint-Germain d'Auxerre Abbey of St. Marianus, Auxerre (Abbaye Saint-Marien d'Auxerre), monks Avenay Abbey (Abbaye d'Avenay), nuns, Diocese of Reims (Avenay-Val-d'Or, Marne) Avesnes Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Avesnes), nuns, Diocese of Arras (Avesnes, Pas-de-Calais) Avignon (Vaucluse), Diocese of Avignon: Abbey of St Andrew, Avignon (Abbaye de Saint-André-lès-Avignon), monks, attributed to the Diocese of Orange Abbey of St Laurence, Avignon (Abbaye Saint-Laurent d'Avignon), nuns
B
Baignes Abbey otherwise Baigne Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Étienne de Baignes or Baigne), monks, Diocese of Saintes (Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde, Charente) Le Barroux (Vaucluse): Abbey of Our Lady of the Annunciation, Le Barroux (Abbaye Notre-Dame de l'Annonciation du Barroux), nuns Le Barroux Abbey otherwise Abbey of St Madeleine, Le Barroux (Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux), monks (founded 1978, raised to status of abbey in 1989)Le Barroux Abbey website Bassac Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Étienne de Bassac), monks, Diocese of Saintes (?-1790) (Bassac, Charente)Bassac Abbey website Baume-les-Dames Abbey (Abbaye de Baume-les-Dames, Abbaye Sainte-Odile), nuns, Diocese of Besançon (Baume-les-Dames, Doubs) Baume Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul de Baume-les-Messieurs or Baume-les-Moines), monks, Diocese of Besançon, later Diocese of Saint-Claude (Baume-les-Messieurs, Jura) (later became Cistercian) Beaulieu-lès-Loches Abbey (Abbaye Sainte-Trinité de Beaulieu), monks, Diocese of Tours (Beaulieu-lès-Loches, Indre-et-Loire) Beaulieu-en-Argonne Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Sauveur et Saint-Maurice de Beaulieu), monks, Diocese of Verdun (Beaulieu-en-Argonne, Meuse) Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul de Beaulieu or Abbaye Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul et Sainte-Félicité de Beaulieu), Diocese of Limoges, in the Limousin (Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Corrèze) Beaumont Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Beaumont), nuns, Diocese of Clermont (Beaumont, Puy-de-Dôme) Beaumont-lès-Tours Abbey (Abbaye de Beaumont-lès-Tours), nuns, Diocese of Tours (Beaumont-lès-Tours, Indre-et-Loire) Abbey of St Lucian, Beauvais (Abbaye Saint-Lucien de Beauvais), monks, Diocese of Beauvais (Beauvais, Oise) Bec Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame du Bec), monks (Olivetans since 1948), Diocese of Rouen (Le Bec-Hellouin, Eure) Bellaigue Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bellaigue), monks (Virlet, Puy-de-Dôme)Bellaigue Abbey website 950-1136: Benedictine priory; 1136-37: Benedictine abbey; 1137-1791: Cistercian abbey; 2000- Benedictine abbey) Bellecelle Abbey (Abbaye de Bellecelle), Archdiocese of Albi (Castres, Tarn) Bellefontaine Abbey (Abbaye de Bellefontaine), Diocese of La Rochelle (Bégrolles-en-Mauges, Maine-et-Loire) Belloc Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame de Belloc) (Urt, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)Belloc Abbey website Bergues Abbey (Abbaye de Bergues-Saint-Winoc), monks, Diocese of Ypres (Bergues, Nord) Bernay Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bernay), monks, Diocese of Lisieux (Bernay, Eure) Berteaucourt Abbey or Bertaucourt Abbey (Abbaye de Berteaucourt, Abbaye Notre-Dame de Berteaucourt-les-Dames; also Bertaucourt), nuns, Diocese of Amiens (Berteaucourt-les-Dames, Somme) Abbey of St Vincent, Besançon (Abbaye Saint-Vincent de Besançon), monks, Diocese of Besançon (Besançon, Doubs) Bèze Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul de Bèze), monks (Bèze, Côte-d'Or) Biblisheim Abbey (Abbaye de Biblisheim), nuns, Diocese of Strasbourg (Biblisheim, Bas-Rhin)
Abbaye des Blancs-Manteaux ("Abbey of the White Cloaks"), monks, Diocese of Paris (Rue des Blancs-Manteaux, 4th arrondissement, Paris) (Servites 1258-74; Williamites 1298-1610; Benedictines 1618-1790; this was the first seat of the Congregation of Saint-Maur) Blangy Abbey (Abbaye de Blangy), monks, Diocese of Boulogne-sur-Mer (Blangy-sur-Ternoise, Pas-de-Calais) Blasimont Abbey otherwise Blâmont Abbey (Abbaye de Blasimont or Blâmont), monks, Diocese of Bazas (Blasimon, Gironde) Blaye Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Sauveur de Blaye), monks, Diocese of Bordeaux (Blaye, Gironde) Blesle Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Blesle), nuns, Diocese of Clermont (849-1789) (Blesle, Haute-Loire)Blesle municipal website: Blesle Abbey Abbey of St Laumer, Blois (Abbaye Saint-Laumer de Blois), Diocese of Chartres later Diocese of Blois (Blois, Loir-et-Cher)formerly Saint-Martin-au-Val Bois-Aubry Abbey (Abbaye de Bois-Aubry), monks, Diocese of Tours (Luzé, Indre-et-Loire)Gallic Orthodox Church website: Bois-Aubry Abbey Bonnesaigne Abbey (Abbaye de Bonnesaigne), nuns, Diocese of Limoges (Combressol, Corrèze) Bonneval Abbey (Abbaye de Bonneval, Abbaye Saint-Florentin or Abbaye Saint-Florentin et Saint-Hilaire de Bonneval), monks, Diocese of Chartres (Bonneval, Eure-et-Loir) Bonneval-lès-Thouars Abbey (Abbaye de Bonneval-lès-Thouars), nuns, Diocese of Poitiers (Saint-Jean-de-Thouars, Deux-Sèvres) Bon-Secours Priory (Prieuré Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours), nuns (1648-1790), Diocese of Paris (Rue de Charonne and Impasse Bon-Secours, 11th arrondissement, Paris) St Cross Abbey, Bordeaux (Abbaye Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux), monks, Diocese of Bordeaux (Bordeaux, Gironde) Boscherville Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Georges de Boscherville), monks, Diocese of Rouen (Saint-Martin-de-Boscherville, Seine-Maritime)Boscherville Abbey website