Founded around 1100 by Robert d'Arbrissel, the monastic complex as it appears today is the result of a number of construction projects. Its 12th century Plantagenet style church was also a royal burial ground for the Plantagenet family. It extends to the south with two cloisters, a hospital and numerous outbuildings. The abbey is also famous for its late 12th century kitchens, with extraordinary fireplaces. It accommodated two thousand guests over the lifetime of its founder.

As a royal monastery, it won fame through its abbesses who were from the high nobility or royal descent, thus benefiting from their generous dowries. During the 16th century, under the direction of members of the Bourbon family, it experienced a golden age as an intellectual and spiritual centre. Renée de Bourbon, Francis I's aunt, had many of the monastery buildings rebuilt. The twin windows of the cloister's southern walkway (1519-1520) present the elegant movements of the early Renaissance. Louise de Bourbon, the king's cousin, was abbess from 1534 and oversaw the construction of the chapter house. Some sources claim that the king may have provided funding for this. The portal and mullioned windows opening out onto the cloister are abundantly ornamented. Their construction dates back to 1541-1543, and their style is similar to the late Renaissance. They are characterised by a multitude of depictions of biblical scenes as well as legendary, imaginary and pagan ones. Ornamentation with plant motifs, masks and emblems (including the salamander) cover the surfaces in a style close to Mannerism. However, the archivolted portal retained a medieval structure. The frescoes decorating the lunettes in the vaulted chapter house date back to 1563 and depict the Passion of the Christ. Figures of kneeling abbesses can be seen in each painting. The other wings of the cloister were rebuilt in the 2nd half of the 16th century and also belong to the late Renaissance. In the south-east corner of the same cloister a monumental staircase with a vaulted coffered ceiling leads to the dormitory.