Longpont : a charming village in the forest

Nestling along the forest of Retz, Longpont is a charming and picturesque village. The name Longpont literally means “long bridge”. According to the legend, it is said that the first human settlement occurred during the Roman era and that, due to the river La Savière, the only way to reach the village was crossing a long bridge.

Though it still looks like an untouched medieval village, it was almost entirely destroyed and bombing during the First World War in 1918. If you look carefully, you will noticed some details which reveal that the village was reconstructed in the 1920’s by the way in which the limestone was cut to rebuilt the houses.

Located on the main square, the abbey is the very heart of the village and the community. The ruins of this great historical monument, originally founded in 1131 by Saint-Bernard, are a unique example of what a cathedral-sized gothic abbey looked like. The main building has unfortunately suffered over the last centuries, especially during the First World War when the Germans set it on fire while retreating in 1918. Fortunately, the vaulted room, and the cloister are still there and you can discover it during immersive guided visits.