Prieuré Saint-Hippolyte de Vivoin

A wedding at Prieuré Saint-Hippolyte de Vivoin

In central Vivoin, Sarthe, Prieuré Saint-Hippolyte explicitly offers its spaces for wedding hire. The former monastic complex combines vaulted rooms, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, gardens and on-site accommodation. It also hosts private receptions, meetings and cultural activities, so private use must be defined for your date and booked spaces. This is the priory in Vivoin, 72170, not another estate run by the same operator.

Named rooms and capacities to confirm

Chauffoir covers 160 m² beneath Gothic vaults and opens towards the former cloister. Cellier, also 160 m², connects to it through a large opening and also has cloister access. The official website advertises 160 seated guests in each of these two rooms; a presentation updated in September 2026 uses 150. Salle des Gardes, at 160 m², is advertised for approximately 300 standing guests and opens onto the park at garden level. For a smaller group, the private reception page describes Salon du Prieur: 60 m² for 50 seated guests. The wedding page advertises up to 480 m² of rooms; the private reception page reaches 540 m² including the salon. These figures cover different sets of spaces.

Choose a realistic reception layout

For the wedding as a whole, the official reference capacity is 280 seated guests. Other presentations advertise 250 or 300 seated, and a maximum of 500 guests does not describe a guaranteed covered dinner in one room. Do not add room capacities together: table layout, dancing, service, circulation and exits must be agreed with the venue. Museum rooms may be offered for drinks according to the agreed package. Salle des Gardes availability and any wet-weather role must be included in the booking; a reference to booking 48 hours in advance does not establish the hire duration.

Park, cloister and ceremonies

The advertised three-hectare park allows the day to move between gardens, former cloister, orchard, courtyard and terrace. An apple-tree avenue leads to the wedding spaces. An outdoor symbolic ceremony, drinks reception or tented celebration may be considered. Marquees are allowed according to the official website, but their supply and equipment are not automatically included. Plan shelter for every guest, power, toilets and technical access. Saint-Hippolyte church is immediately next door: religious use must be agreed separately and does not make the church a privately hired priory reception room.

Catering, menus, cake and drinks

Venue-only hire is advertised, with a non-exclusive choice of outside caterer and the option of requesting a supplier list. A caterer’s kitchen appears among the listed facilities; confirm its precise equipment, cold storage, deliveries and cleaning. The FAQ allows an outside cake without a surcharge and own drinks without corkage. Specify staffing, glassware, the bar and service times in the contract. No current detailed wedding menu, child price, certification or guaranteed dietary provision is established: discuss allergies, vegetarian alternatives and other requests with the chosen caterer. A drinks package linked to a menu must not be confused with inclusion in venue-only hire.

Furniture, entertainment and accommodation

The wedding website advertises 300 crystal chairs and round tables. Dancing, photography, music and transport appear among public options; these additional services are not presumed included. Confirm sound, lighting, screen, Wi-Fi, heating and air-conditioning inventories rather than assuming they are available in every room. Official accommodation totals 33 sleeping places: ten double bedrooms in the priory, four double bedrooms and a five-person dormitory in La Bergerie, a separate cottage within the grounds. The wedding page offers the couple a 50 m² bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and period furniture. Other bedrooms, nights, breakfasts and supplements should be itemised in the quotation.

Prices and terms: request a dated quotation

The official website does not publish a wedding hire price list. A presentation updated in September 2026 indicates €6,000–7,000 for hire; an older undated one lists €2,800–5,500 including tax. Seasons and inclusions differ or are insufficiently detailed to guarantee these as current prices. Request the exact price for the date, duration, spaces, guest count and overnight stays. Separate hire, meals, drinks, staff, furniture, technical equipment, tent and cleaning. Visitor or exhibition tickets are unrelated to the reception budget. Payment cards, bank transfer and cheque are publicly mentioned, subject to confirmation. The official pages consulted do not state the booking deposit, security bond, payment schedule, cancellation, postponement or insurance terms.

Access, times and contact

The business address is 1 Place des Tilleuls, 72170 Vivoin, Sarthe. The map identifies the priory building, distinct from the neighbouring church and town centre. Vivoin railway station and the A28 help with arrivals; arrange transfers around actual timetables. Parking for 50 vehicles is publicly mentioned, subject to confirmation. Salle des Gardes has reduced-mobility access at garden level; check the other rooms, bedrooms and toilets individually. A FAQ states a 04:00 finish and one event per day: confirm music, noise levels, access, setup and handover in the contract. For a visit or quotation, contact contact@prieure-de-vivoin.fr or +33 7 87 06 47 21, as displayed on official pages.

Authentic archive photographs

Havang(nl) — 2019-06-24 — Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Archive view; resizing/WebP conversion may occur. No author endorsement is implied.

Christophe Bazile — 2009-08-28 — Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0. Archive view; resizing/WebP conversion may occur. Adaptations under the same licence. No author endorsement is implied.

Havang(nl) — 2019-06-24 — Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Archive view; resizing/WebP conversion may occur. No author endorsement is implied.