Notre-Dame de la Grainetière Abbey
Description
he Notre-Dame de la Grainetière abbey is located in the commune of Les Herbiers. It was founded in 1130 by Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Fontdouce en Saintonge. However, construction began in earnest at the end of the 12th century to become an ensemble considered to be exemplary of Romanesque art in Vendée.
Several times burned down or looted during the Hundred Years War, then during the Wars of Religion, the abbey was partly restored at the beginning of the 17th century. However, in 1760, only one monk remained. During the Revolution convent buildings were sold to a farmer and the abbey church was gradually demolished.
It was not until 1963 that the site was bought and a long restoration campaign began and in 1979, a priory was established within the walls (religious from the Notre-Dame d'Espérance congregation still occupy the monastery).
The remains of the primitive abbey are highlighted, in particular the west gallery of the Romanesque cloister, with its small semicircular arches and double columns, the chapter room transformed into a chapel, three apses of the transept of the church abbey and two defensive towers to the south, one of which, known as the Abbot's Tower, was restored in 2001.