La Chartreuse de Neuville

Neuville-sous-Montreuil, France

The Chartreuse Notre-Dame des Prés was a Carthusian monastery (Charterhouse) in northern France, at Neuville-sous-Montreuil. The charter of foundation is dated from the chateau d'Hardelot on 15 July 1324; the church was consecrated in 1338.

The foundation, being close to Calais, was liable to disturbance in time of war. Thus it was often sacked by the English during the wars of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, and was for a time abandoned. The religious returned when peace was restored.

In 1542 the monastery was again wrecked by the Imperial troops and in the wars of religion fresh troubles attended the community. Finally the house was rebuilt by Dom Bernard Bruyant in the latter part of the seventeenth century and remained undisturbed until the French Revolution. In 1790 the monastery was suppressed and its property sold by auction the following year.

Eighty-two years later the Carthusians repurchased a portion of their old estate and the first stone of the new monastery was laid on 2 April 1872. The work was pushed forward by the Prior, Dom Eusèbe Bergier, and was finished in three years. The monastery contained twenty-four cells in its cloister.

La Chartreuse de Neuville has dozens of cloisters, chapels, a library and other rooms. It was once the home of  the printing press for all the Charterhouses of Europe 1800s. But the equipment was transferred to St Hugh’s Charterhouse (there are plans to have it returned).

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Details

Founded: 1324
Category: Religious sites in France
Historical period: Late Capetians (France)

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

david wilkes (2 years ago)
Worth a short visit. Beautiful setting, super quiet church and gardens, ideal for reflection. Not really geared up for tourists.
Gary Mack (2 years ago)
Such an incredible find. This place is steeped in history. The gardens are so beautiful but I recommend that you take a tour. We were very lucky to have Manon as our guide. Her knowledge oh the history and building was superb. We were very lucky to be able to have the tour in English. There is so much to learn. What a magical morning. Thank you Manon
Milan Boca (2 years ago)
Amazing place to visit and definitely to take a tour guide to hear amazing stories about and history of this place
Sakshi Garg (4 years ago)
Good
Diomaye A. Ngom (5 years ago)
Saw a few of it unfortunately... but worth the time of a tour
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