Heritage

Boquen Abbey

The 12th century church, ranked among the National Historic Monuments, containing Dom Alexis' grave. (Romanesque style, mixed with nascent gothic style);
Inside the abbey-church: the light airy wooden roof structure which was built in the 1960's;
The 15th century chancel, where were buried the remains of Gilles de Bretagne, brother of the Duke François II were buried. He was murdered by his brother's partisans in the jail of the Château de la Hardouinaye in Merdrignac;
In one of the lateral chapels of the southern transept, a 15th century wooden polychrome (statue) representing the Virgin and child;
The abbey's mill, which is being restored.

1137 : Foundation of the abbey by Olivier II, count of Dinan. The abbey prospered from the start, and its sphere of influence developed quickly.
XVIème : The abbey went into decline from the 16th century during the war of religion (1588 - 1598), when it was looted
1790 : the Abbey was sold for next to nothing, as it was a state-owned property. Totally deserted for over a century, it was ransacked and a lot of stones were removed.
1936 : a Cistercian monk called Dom Alexis came back to Boquen and took over the Abbey. Gradually, he and a couple of monks reestablished Cistercian monastic life and rebuilt the buildings (refectory, library, chapel…)
1938 : the Abbey was listed among the National Historic Monuments
1965 : Dom Alexis' efforts were celebrated at the consecration of the abbey-church in August 1965 by many civilian and key religious figures. Dom Alexis attended the ceremony on a stretcher, totally exhausted by his work. He died a few months later in November 1965.
1976 to 2010 : at the request of the Church, a community of Sisters of bethlehem lived in the Abbey, dedicating their lives to God in total solitude.
2011 : the « Communauté du Chemin Neuf » arrived in the abbey.

Abbaye de Boquen
Notre Dame de la Croix Vivifiante
Boquen
22640 PLENEE JUGON
Tél: 00 33 (0) 2.96.30.22.36

The Abbey is open to visitors all year, from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm (7.00 pm in summer), except during services.
Permanent exhibition on the history and the everyday life of the abbey.
Craft display in the abbey shop.
Service hours: The Eucharist usually takes place every Sunday on 11.00 am. For other services, please contact the monastery.