Abbaye de Chaalis

Medieval Cistercian abbey near Paris, with Gothic ruins and a remarkable art museum in the adjoining château.

Chaalis Abbey stands about 40 kilometres north-east of Paris in a forested park in the Oise département. Founded in 1136 as a Cistercian monastery, it enjoyed royal patronage for centuries. The Gothic ruins of the abbey church are among the most evocative in northern France, and the Renaissance chapel preserves rare frescoes attributed to Rosso Fiorentino. The adjoining château houses the Jacquemart-André museum with an impressive collection of medieval and Renaissance art. A classified historic monument, the ensemble makes a serene and culturally rich day trip from Paris.