Abbey of Saint-Aubin (St. Albina) with a medieval bell tower is located near the main attractions of Angers - Cathedral of St. Mauritius and next to the Museum of Fine Arts.

For the construction of the monastery of the Benedictine monks chose the place over the tomb of St. Albin, Bishop of Angers, who was born at the end of the V century and led the local congregation in the year 529. The day his memory is celebrated on March 1. Even before the construction of the monastery in the VI century basilica was built. In the XVII century the monastery passed to the Congregation of Saint Maur - scientists call it "a division" Benedictine, named in honor of St. Maurus, train teachers for schools of theology of the Order, and to publish religious books. Congregation of Saint Maur engaged in the restructuring of the abbey at the end of the XVII century and the first third of the XVIII century. Evidence of this period in the history of the monastery is a grand staircase, vestry, paneled in wood, the chapter hall. From the earlier, Roman, period preserved the unique frescos discovered in the first half of the XIX century.

At the beginning of the XIX century, a significant portion of the abbey was demolished during the construction of the town square Michel Debre. The remaining rooms have been adapted for the needs of the Prefecture. Also preserved bell tower, built in the XII century. At its height in the 54 meters in the Middle Ages it served as a watchtower and was strengthened as a real fortress - the loopholes and even had its own well. Today it is the building towers over the rest of the city buildings.

In the XIX century the tower lost its bells and the roof, in the XX century, its walls housed the Museum and Meteorological Observatory. Today it hosts exhibitions of works of art. This tower is a national historic monument since 1862.