Ancien Doyenné

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

Around the year 733, the hermit Emilian, coming from Brittany, gathered around him a number of disciples who lived under the rule of Saint Augustine and hollowed out a monolithic church. At the end of the 9th century, the Normans ravaged this first monastery. In 1080, it was in the hands of a layman, Olivier, viscount of Castillon. The archbishop of Bordeaux persuaded the latter to abandon his rights over the church and established in this place canons who were to live cloistered. In 1110, the monks are placed under the rule of Saint Benedict. The monolithic church was abandoned and a first chapel built on the top of the plateau. In the 12th century, the monks built a church and cloisters, as well as convent buildings comprising storerooms, cellars, guest halls, refectory, dormitory, cells, all forming the deanery. Of this important ensemble, only the south and west wings are most visible, the east wing being incorporated into recent construction. In the 15th century, the building was rebuilt and pierced on the façade with mullioned windows and triangular pediments. The building which formerly served as the abbot's lodging was entirely rebuilt in the 18th century. Inside, a stone staircase whose wrought-iron railing dates from 1744. A door with a trilobed arch made communication possible between the cloister and the refectory. The east wall adjoining the chapter house exhibits bays and Romanesque doors opening onto this hall. At its northern extremity, a door with a triangular pediment framing a trilobed arch gave access to the collegiate church. The west wall separated the cloister from the abbot's lodging.