Château et abbaye Notre-Dame de Clairefontaine

English translation

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History

The Abbey Notre-Dame de Clairefontaine, a daughter of Morimond, was founded by Guy de Jonvelle in 1131. Monks coming from the mother abbey are said to have settled in June 1733. We know nothing of the first buildings. The church existed in 1175, at which date it received the burial of Etienne count of Traves and Auxonne. The convent suffered from the various wars over the centuries, from the 14th century and the plague of 1349, the wars of Louis XI, the troops of Tremblecourt in 1595, until the Swedes in 1636. In 1644 it is described as ruined. From the 17th century onwards, works of enlargement and restoration of the choir struggle to progress. Then the masonry as well as the new roof structure and tile covering are remade. Between 1690 and 1707, major works completed the body of the building: reconstruction of the dormitory wing, the refurbishment of the roof of three wings of the cloister and of the paving, repairs to the guest quarters and the refectory, complete refurbishment of the roof of the church. During the revolutionary period, villagers from the surrounding area invaded the abbey and had the archives handed over to them. In 1790, the monastery is surveyed, both moveable and architectural. All the buildings were purchased in 1793 by Jean-François Estienne who associates with Charles Henriot to found a glassworks. This stops in 1802-1803. Jean-François Estienne subsequently founds with his three brothers-in-law a faïence factory which closes its doors in 1932. The same year, the building is sold as well as its installations then in 1938, Clairefontaine is transformed into a psychiatric hospital.

Description

Monastic building between a courtyard to the west, flanked by former service buildings, and terraced gardens to the east, and in the valley bottom towards the south. The building is composed of the old monastic building, quarters of the monks, becoming the house of the owners of the faïence factory in the 19th century, today administrative services, doctors' offices and various workshops of the hospital; old service buildings to the west; the old granary-laundry to the north; the old stables; the west wing which integrates the 18th-century portal; the old mill.