Ancienne abbaye

English translation

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History

Brantôme Abbey is first mentioned in sources at the beginning of the 9th century, although some traditions date it back to the 8th century. Affected by the Hundred Years' War, it was restored in the 16th century and was then marked by the personality of several of its abbots, notably the man of letters Pierre de Bourdeille. It was attached to the congregation of Saint-Maur in 1636 and saw its main dwelling rebuilt in the 18th century. Closed during the Revolution, the former abbey is now occupied by the town hall of Brantôme, the tourist office, a library, a museum space, associative halls, etc., although the commune is implementing an important project to relocate its municipal spaces. The abbey has furthermore been the subject of successive protection campaigns spanning from 1840 to 1957 and covering the majority of its spaces as well as peripheral constructions. Currently, only the presbytery and part of the interiors of the former abbatial main dwelling are not protected, as well as the railing overlooking the Dronne. The spaces attached to the former abbey of Brantôme form a heterogeneous ensemble comprising medieval elements (church and cloister vestiges), Renaissance (Gate of the Reformed, guard corps pavilion, angled bridge, resting chapels), 17th century (fountain) and 18th century (abbatial main dwelling). The site moreover contains several caves carved into the cliff, one of which housing a church with a sculptured wall. The ensemble is subject to heterogeneous protections (classified, partially classified or registered elements) leaving some elements still to be protected: the interior of the main dwelling (apart from roof structures and a classified staircase) and the presbytery, these two buildings containing several vaulted halls, as well as a grand staircase from the late 19th century and decorated with medallions depicting famous figures connected to the history of the abbey.

Description

This abbey, whose foundation is said to go back to Charlemagne, currently comprises a church and bell tower of the 12th century, a cloister of the 14th century, annexed elements (pavilion and bridge) of the Renaissance depending on the vanished abbot's main dwelling, and finally a large monastic building of the 17th century. Indeed, the old monastic buildings were rebuilt during the Reform of Saint-Maur, retaining only part of the old cloister (north gallery), situated in return of the west portal of the church. The 17th century monastic building extends the church. It is composed of a central body flanked by two pavilions. Behind the church and conventional buildings exist a succession of natural caves which were developed by the religious. One of them contains sculptures. The old abbot's garden was formerly enclosed by walls which were knocked down when it was redesigned by the town. This garden contains the three Renaissance resting chapels to which is attached the memory of the writer Pierre de Bourdeilles, abbot of Brantôme. The old mill of the abbot was situated on the river. There remain the piles of its substructure.