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Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud: a sense of intimacy and community
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by Jade Caillot
- October 12, 2023
- Events
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Seminar and event organizers are on a quest for sobriety for sobriety and meaning. Structural trends that perfectly match the positioning and values of theAbbaye Royale de Fontevraud.
Modern events of all kinds combine three ambitions:
- promote the personal development of each individual participant,
- celebrating the group, the collective and its shared destiny,
- leave a positive mark on the world.
In this virtuous scheme, few venues venues for seminars or events offer enough assets to help organizers satisfy this triple aspiration.
The Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, a Unesco World Heritage site, is one of them. Its rich history, incredible setting and contemporary positioning make it a unique attraction for seminars and events.
Between the quest for the unusual and CSR requirements
Situated in the Loire Valley near Saumur (Maine-et-Loire), two hours from Paris and at the heart of the Tours-Angers axis, Fontevraud is once again making a name for itself in the MICE sector.
"We're basing our development on the four trends we're currently observing among seminar and event organizers: the search for a 'home-like' welcome, the desire to focus on the local, the quest for the unusual and the demand for CSR".
As well as being a renowned cultural center and museum, the Abbey obviously has something to offer organizers on all these points.
Not to mention 2024 and the Paris Olympic Games, which should magnify the value of face-to-face.
A special atmosphere conducive to introspection and reflection
Hospitality is always at the heart of its positioning.
The Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud is one of Europe's largest surviving medieval monastic complexes. Its past gives it a very special spiritual and contemplative atmosphere.
Whether on a guided tour or simply strolling through the historic spaces, every visitor can feel a connection with this past and a certain serenity.
When he returned to the abbey, Philippe de La Ferté, a native of the region, was " struck by the colors of the stone buildings and the ever-changing natural environment. I'd forgotten about them... ". Every individual, even when they come with a group, immerses themselves in a place with a particular atmosphere that transforms. Just like the many artists - sculptors, designers, painters, authors - in residence for several months, who, in the summer of 2023, presented their works walled up within its walls.
Nothing ostentatious, just beautiful
Alongside the monastic withdrawal, Fontevraud has also undergone various phases of spiritual, cultural and economic openness and influence, particularly during the time of the Plantagenet dynasty. This is still the case today, with Fontevraud hosting seminars and events.
A 54-room hotelrenovated in 2014, is just one of the site's assets.
"There's nothing ostentatious about it. An abbey is not a château. We cultivate a dynamic of economy, sobriety, valuing what we have around us and respecting people. We focus on beauty and goodness.
Alignment with these values forms the basis of the site's CSR positioning, whatever the project. In addition to the many CSR-related innovations, the Abbey's staff are all trained in the climate issues of our time.
Promoting the terroir and the region
Gastronomic cuisine is equally in tune with this dynamic. Thibaut Ruggeri, Bocuse d'Or 2013 and 1 star in the Michelin Guide, is particularly proud of his green star, which rewards model roles in terms of eco-responsible gastronomy.
There's a real focus on promoting local products, small producers and local craftsmen, and on hyper-seasonality," explains Philippe La Ferté.says Philippe de La Ferté. For example, you won't find chocolate on our starred chef's menu! ".
But coffee, yes. The bean seems more essential than the cup... The exception made for coffee doesn't count for much when you take a stroll through our 5000 m2 of vegetable gardensfrom which the chef draws, as well as caterers who may be called upon to cater for large groups. up to 800 people for conferences and cocktails.. The integration of the local environment is carried out at all levels, demonstrating if necessary that the site is part of an active CSR policy.
All the ingredients for a meaningful event
Emblematic venue, accommodation, catering, not forgetting the the dozen or so spaces reserved for professional meetings and the activities offered as part of the abbey's artistic and cultural project... all the ingredients are present for a meaningful seminar, event or conference.
Increasingly in demand customized events also find a wonderful setting behind the high tufa walls. Philippe De La Ferté remembers, in November 2022, the fifty or so global managers from this American technology company, along with their spouses, who took possession of venues for a grandiose seminar to mark the company's anniversary. seminar to celebrate the company's anniversary. The event included: a privatized site, a flight of birds of prey in the refectory, a themed and staged gala dinner, and shows staged especially for the occasion...
" A year's work went into the customized organization. On this kind of project, the teams are always very committed. ".
The Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud is an excellent place for tranquillity, and is ready to face up to the new codes of the events industry: a volatile market with no visibility, an increasing number of events on offer at venues , more demanding customers who are involved throughout the entire process, requiring teams to develop their skills, a demand for sobriety, and smaller, more local events...
The 140 professionals (160 in high season) working on site ensure the success of seminars and events, from the teams in the cultural department and the Museum of Modern Art, to the kitchens and the hotel.
Because making giving meaning to events remains a task for precision and experts, creative and collegial..
Give meaning to your event in a venue that embodies your values.
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