Fontevraud Sustainable City

Global strategy

The Fontevraud Abbey has been involved in a eco-friendly policy for a few years already.

It was granted numerous awards, one of them for the construction of its energetic pole (open to visits) that heats the whole site thanks to a wood pellet firebox.

It is labeled ISO 2600, the highest environmental certificate.

Energetic plant

The energy plant was built in 2013 (the first building to be constructed within the abbey walls in 100 years) to enable the use of renewable energies. A wood-chip-fired boiler heats all the buildings. The energy plant is powered by photovoltaic cells, another first for a listed historical monument in France. The plant, with its impressive array of piping, features as part of the visit of the Abbey.

A biodiversity refuge

Fontevraud Royal Abbey is also a classified LPO bird sanctuary (LPO for Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux) thanks to its engagement to promoting biodiversity. Some 235 different plants species, of which 22 are rare, and 39 bird species have been recorded. An eco-pasture has been designated, where sheep of the French breeds of Ouessant and Solognote graze together. Ten beehives provide honey, which is served at breakfast in Fontevraud L’Hôtel. Finally, organic waste from the entire site is recycled thanks to a giant composter, and reused as fertiliser for our 13 hectares of green space.

Hotel policy

Reducing our packaging: you will find very few products served individually packaged. The complimentary water in your room is served in glass bottles. The spring water of Fontevraud, filtered and used, prevents the consumption of bottle in plastics.

Sorting our waste: the cardboxes are compacted in order to reduce the rotations of the collector and the bio waste is used in our electronic compost machine to then be scattered in our gardens.

Electricity: the whole property is equipped with low wattage bulbs and the corridors are equipped with motion sensors. Your room is equipped with a general switch which, when you remove your room key from its support, switches off all lamps.

Thermal comfort: the great thermal inertia of the building enables us not to use air-conditioning.

Water: all taps in your bathrooms are equipped with a foamer in order to regulate the stream of water, while providing you with the best comfort and reducing waste.

Ten right actions

Ventilate: remember to turn off the heating when you open the windows in your room.

Hygienic products: a bin is at your disposal in the bathroom to discard your hygienic products.

Recyclables: newspapers, paper, glass or plastic bottles? Leave them on the desktop, our cleaning staff will take them to sort them out. Recycling bins are at your disposal in the vicinity of the hotel.

Linen: Your bed sheets and towels are changed upon request.

Discover the surroundings: During the summertime a shuttle service is at your service, and we have also bicycles available.

Saving energy: All rooms are equipped with a general switch. To switch off all your lamps just take off your key from the switch.

Wastewater: please do not throw toxic products in order not to disturb the local wastewater process.

Non-smoking hotel: Ashtrays are available around the hotel.

Saving water: When leaving your room, please make sure that the taps of your bathroom are correctly closed. In case of a leak, please inform the front desk or housekeeper.

Eco-Responsability

Bed: Biosense designed the mattresses especially for Fontevraud, which are made of organic natural latex and organic coconut fibre for your comfort and support. The bed frame is make of natural untreated spruce and free of adhesive.

Bedding and towels: All our household linen is made of organic cotton and organic linen. Not only are they comfortable but also they last longer and are easy to wash.

Food: all the food has been selected by our catering teams for their quality, and also for their local origins. This enables us to offer you dishes of good quality without too much impact on the environment.

Material: the wood used in the furniture and the building comes from the surrounding eco-responsible forests.