The Royal Abbey of Moncel

A little history

The Royal Abbey of Moncel is one of the treasures of our heritage. Before the abbey was created, there was a more modest manor house built at the end of the 13th century by Philippe de Beaumanoir, bailiff of Senlis. The property fell into the royal domain on his death.

In the early 14th century, Philip the Fair had the manor house known as Château de Fécamp converted into a royal residence. The king often stayed at the château and decided to found an abbey there. It was during one of his hunting trips in the Halatte forest that a horse accident cost him his life in 1314.

The buildings were home to a community of Poor Clare nuns until the French Revolution. The abbey church was destroyed and the abbey sold as national property. It was then occupied by a wine merchant, before being bought by the bishopric of Beauvais at the beginning of the 20th century to turn it into a seminary and boarding school.

Promoting our heritage

Since 1984, the Club du Vieux Manoir association has taken charge of the building and its restoration. For many years now, it has been offering heritage tours and workshops. These workshops produce stained glass windows for use in monuments.
The association also organises heritage camps for young people aged 14 and over to restore monuments by practising stone-cutting, repointing, masonry, paving, etc.

During the visit, the life of the Poor Clare sisters is presented in the different rooms of the Abbey: frescoed refectory, dormitories under the roof, vaulted cellars, etc. The 6 hectares of green parkland invite you to take a stroll at the end of the visit.

The Abbey also regularly hosts receptions, weddings, film shoots and temporary exhibitions.

The site is listed as a Historic Monument and has been awarded the "Accueil Vélo" label.