The Princely Haven of Abbaye de Varennes: Elevated to Royal Status in 1155

Established in 1148 by Prince Ebbes II de Déols, the Abbaye de Varennes was constructed on a former monastic community adhering to the rule of Saint Benoît. During the reign of the Plantagenet kings, it thrived under their protective aegis. Henry II, in particular, elevated the abbey to a royal status in 1155, a full century before the infamous French abbey of Clairvaux. Through favour, donation, and tax exemptions, the abbey's patrons, including Ythier de Magnac in 1276 and Guillaume III de Chauvigny in 1294, fortified the monastic community. However, it's worth noting that by the early 20th Century, the abbey lay in ruins, where it was the final resting place of a photographer named Jenny de Vasson.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons