The aim of this page is to give a general idea of the social activities which are foreseen for the conference.

In particular, a visit of the famous Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, which is presented briefly below, is planned. A visit of some prestigious wines cellars such as Ackerman or Bouvet-Ladubay, and wine tastings are also programmed.

The diner will take place in the refectory of the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud.

The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud - 900 years of history

Founded in 1101 by Robert d'Arbrissel and ruled over for centuries by the most powerful of abbesses, the Abbey of Fontevraud was, before the Revolution, the richest and most important monastery in France. The Abbey is composed of several buildings and spreads over almost 15 hectares. Each building was dedicated to a specific monastic category. Some of these buildings were destroyed during the French Revolution but must of them are still intact.

The Abbey church The Abbey church was built in the XIIth century. Its dimensions (85m on 16m and the transept makes 38m length) are the testimony of the importance of the monastery. The Chorus surrounded by a ambulatory and the transept were built first, the nave was carried out then. The Cloister of the Great Minister Like all cloisters, its purpose was to provide a convenient and protected structure to communicate between the different components of the abbey. Thus all conventional life was concentrated around this square. The location of the various living accommodations of Fontevraud followed the Benedictine plan: to the north, the church; to the east, the sacristy, the chapter house, the community hall; to the south, the refectory; to the west, the outbuildings.

Kitchens and the Refectory The Abbey has original kitchens arranged as an octogone with many chimneys. These kitchens were restored at the beginning of the XXth century. Related to these kitchens, the Abbey has a large Refectory where the ICEIS 2003 Conference dinner will take place.

The refectory is a vast room, which welcomed the great number of religious who were present at the Abbey in the Middle Ages. It was built over Romanesque foundations by Renée de Bourbon in the early 16th century. Although Gothic in style, the refectory's vaults form an almost perfect semi-circular arch. Corbels and keystones are of remarkable quality.

For more information, please consult the site www.abbaye-fontevraud.com.

Ackerman Laurance The Maison Ackerman Laurance, the Oldest House of Wine in Saumur was created in 1811 by Jean Ackerman, the very first sparkling wine maker. Jean Ackerman gave his name to the main street of Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent. Since 1956, the Maison Ackerman Laurance has been part of the Rémy Pannier Ackerman Laurance Group. This group, leader in the Loire's wine market, employs 210 people. Moreover, it has a turnover of 53 Million euros with more than 56% in exports and produces each year 30 million bottles of which 12 million are sparkling wines. In 1811 these cellars were not the same as today. At the time Jean Ackerman discovered tufa quarries put to other purposes from which no limestone blocks had been extracted for several years.

Bouvet-Ladubay Founded by the visionary Etienne Bouvet in 1851, Bouvet-Ladubay is one of the most respected wine-producing firms of the Loire Valley. The house's reputation has been founded not only on the superb quality of its wines, but also on a spirit of innovation and the art of living which has marked its activities from the outset. Its affiliation as a subsidiary of Champagne Taittinger since 1974 has heightened its image and lent the firm greater long-term access to the finest vineyards of the Loire Valley. Patrice Monmousseau, President Directeur General since 1971, is the creative force behind Bouvet-Ladubay Art Concept, a center for contemporary art in which the art of wine, the art of living and the contemporary plastic and performing arts are united. Its goal is to present new perspectives in thought, research and expression from a diversity of creative disciplines. Its epicenter is a gallery of nine exhibition halls each of which is given for a period to a living, accomplished artist who installs his own exposition.

Page Updated on 19-10-2006

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