Port-Royal, a French abbey of nuns established at the beginning of the 13th century, became famous during the 17th century, between 1609 and 1709, when it functioned not only as a community of Cistercian nuns, but also as a stronghold of the Catholic Reform in Europe and as an effervescent cultural centre due to the works of several writers, theologians and artists who revolved around the institution.
The abbey was established in 1204 by Mathilde de Garlande, who had received a pious legacy from her husband, Mathieu de Montmorency, seigneur de Marly, before his departure for the fourth Crusade (1202-1204) in 1202. The first nuns, installed at Notre-Dame de Porrois —the original name of the abbey, which was used until the 15th century— in the Vallée de Chevreuse, 25 kilometers (about
3219 words
Citation: Ciocoiu, Elena. "Port Royal". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 07 July 2015 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=883, accessed 23 November 2024.]
