Preuilly Abbey

Égligny, France

Preuilly Abbey, the fifth daughter house of Cîteaux Abbey, was founded in 1118 by Stephen Harding on a site provided by Theobald of Blois, Count of Champagne. The first abbot was Arthaud. The abbey soon became prosperous and founded its own daughter houses, Vauluisant Abbey (1129) and Barbeau Abbey (1148). In 1146 La Colombe Abbey, founded some years previously, joined the Cistercian Order and put itself under the supervision of Preuilly.

In the 14th and 15th centuries the monastery was sacked and laid waste several times, and occupied by English troops. In 1536 it passed into the hands of commendatory abbots. It was plundered again in 1567 during the Wars of Religion and in 1652 during the Fronde. The buildings were restored at the beginning of the 18th century.

After the dissolution of the abbey in 1791 during the French Revolution the church was used as a saltpetre factory, and the other buildings were sold off at auction to different owners. Considerable demolition took place, which was brought to an end only in the years between 1829 and 1846, when a Dr. Husson bought up the site in small portions. The surviving buildings have been protected since 1927.

The church, which dates from the second third of the 12th century and had a choir with a rose window and a transept with another rose window in the south front, is in ruins, as is the chapter house. The passage from the cloister to the church survives, as do the armarium, the sacristy, the entrance portal to the monastery between two round towers, and a part of the abbot's house. The abbey's 13th-century townhouse in Provins also survives.

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Address

Preuilly, Égligny, France
See all sites in Égligny

Details

Founded: 1118
Category: Religious sites in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Véronique LAGARRIGUE (2 years ago)
C'est un site magnifique à ne pas manquer
Dominique ROBERT (2 years ago)
Eric Martinet (2 years ago)
Domaine hors du temps. A la fois lieu archéologique, ferme d'élevage de chevaux, centre d'indemnisation à la ferme de Gratteloup, élevage de faisans, terres agricoles.... Cet endroit est incroyable. On s'attend à voir arriver des dizaines de chevaliers revenants des croisades sous le chant gregorien de moines cisterciens. Le film "Au nom de la rose" aurait pu y être tourné. Cette abbaye cistercienne a été fondée en 1118 vient de fêter ses 900 ans. Malheureusement détruite en grande partie en 1790/1791 par la révolution. Le domaine fût acquis par le Docteur Henri-Marie Husson qui racheta en plusieurs fois de 1829 à 1842 les batiments et les terres. Son fils achetant le dernier le dernier élément du puzzle en 1866, le logis abbatial. Les descendants de cette famille sont encore à la tête de ce bel endroit que dirige d'une main ferme et juste Madame Patricia Husson. La générosité de cette femme a permis de fêter majestueusement, durant trois jours, les 900 ans de ce domaine de 14 hectares.
Encadrez Qui Vous Voulez (2 years ago)
Endroit magique !
Audren Husson (3 years ago)
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