It was built between 1228 and 1235 with the support of
Louis IX. A proclamation by Louis IX stated that royal children were to be interred at Royaumont. The thirteenth century encyclopedist
Vincent of Beauvais was a brother at the Abbey as well. The abbey was dissolved in 1791 during the
French Revolution and the stones were partly used to build a factory. However, the
sacristy,
cloister, and
refectory remained intact. In 1836 and 1838, respectively, two operas by
German composer
Friedrich von Flotow opened at Royaumont—
Sérafine and
Le Comte de Saint-Mégrin. In the early 20th century, the abbey was bought by the
Goüin family who in 1964 created the Royaumont Foundation, the first private French cultural foundation. Today, the abbey is a tourist attraction and also serves as a cultural centre.
World War I inspecting a French patient at Royaumont. Painting by
Norah Neilson Gray. From January 1915 to March 1919, the Abbey was turned into a voluntary hospital, Hôpital Auxiliaire 301, operated by
Scottish Women's Hospitals(SWH), under the direction of the
French Red Cross. It was especially noted for its performance treating soldiers involved in the
Battle of the Somme. After the war the Chief Medical Officer, Miss
Frances Ivens CBE MS(Lond) ChM(Liverp) FRGOG (1870–1944), was awarded membership of the
Légion d'honneur. ==Royaumont Abbey in popular culture==