Founded in 1706 on St Jean’s hill for regular canon priests following St Augustine’s rule, the abbey is the most spectacular monument of the city.

First of Romanesque style, the buildings are replaced at the end of the 12th century with those we can see today: the façade (12th-16th century), the refectory and the cellar (13th century), two galleries of the big cloister (end of the 13th century), a gallery of a Renaissance style little cloister and the abbey dwelling place.

Purchased in the seventies by the city of Soissons this site is a listed building.

The Research Department of the Roman Mural Paintings is situated in the old granaries, the Archaeology Regional Department in the infirmary and the guests dwelling place, the Museum, Architecture and Heritage Department in the abbey dwelling place.

The Arsenal is the evidence of the military occupation of the abbey from the end of the 18th century. It offers all round the year an exceptional space for Modern Art exhibitions.

Visits and workshops for everybody, activities for families and pupils of each level are suggested all round the year too.

An Architecture and Heritage Interpretation Department will open on the ground of the abbey dwelling place in 2007.