Saint-Jouin de Marnes Abbey

Plaine-et-Vallées, France

The abbey of Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes was built in the 11th and 12th centuries to the site of 4th century oratory. The abbey was fortified in the 14th century and is an impressive size, measuring 72 metres long and 15 metres tall. It contains beautiful Poitevin Romanesque art. Visitors can also admire the arches of its doors with their sculpted motifs, the scene of the Last Judgment adorning the pediment, the square bell tower with round bays, and in the majestic chancel, the oak stalls and eagle-shaped lectern from the 17th century.

Address

Route de Poitiers 9, Plaine-et-Vallées, France

See all sites in Plaine-et-Vallées

Details

Founded: 1095
Category: Religious sites in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

More Information

www.france-voyage.com

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Château d'Oiron (8 km)

Fontevraud Abbey (34,2 km)
Palace of Poitiers (44,8 km)
Notre-Dame la Grande (44,8 km)
Château de Chinon (38,6 km)
Château d'Usse (48,5 km)
Musée des Blindés (40,3 km)
Château de Saumur (41,8 km)
Poitiers Cathedral (45,4 km)
Château de Montreuil-Bellay (29 km)

User Reviews

Elizabeth Treeby (2 years ago)
Place of great calm and peacefulness.

Wayne Forster (2 years ago)
A beautiful church but sadly we couldn't go in

Nunio Vasileva (3 years ago)
Very pretty old cathedral

Rob Mil (4 years ago)
Wery good

John Chandler (5 years ago)
A special place and hidden gem in the area. There are occasionally special cultural events here, too.

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Manarola

Manarola is a small town, a frazione of the comune of Riomaggiore. It is the second-smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns frequented by tourists, with a population of 353.

Manarola may be the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating from 1338. The local dialect is Manarolese, which is marginally different from the dialects in the nearby area. The name 'Manarola' is probably a dialectical evolution of the Latin, 'magna rota'. In the Manarolese dialect this was changed to 'magna roea' which means 'large wheel', in reference to the mill wheel in the town.

Manarola's primary industries have traditionally been fishing and wine-making. The local wine, called Sciacchetrà, is especially renowned; references from Roman writings mention the high quality of the wine produced in the region.