Site archéologique de Saint-Roman d'Aiguille (également sur commune de Comps)

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

The oldest document found on the abbey site is a coin from the 4th century AD. The first document on the history of the abbey relates the enfeoffment of Saint-Roman to the abbey of Psalmodi in 1102 by the archbishop of Arles Gibelin. It then became a priory. In 1360, Pope Urban V established a college of clerks there. In 1537, Saint-Roman was secularised at the same time as Psalmodi by a bull of Paul III. The religious abandoned the monastery. In 1538, François de Conseil exchanged the abbey for his house at Aigues-Mortes, transforming Saint-Roman into a fortress. In the early 16th century, a castle was built on the upper terrace, as well as a lower enclosing wall and an entrance barbican. The materials of the abbey were used for these constructions. In 1789, the roof was sold as national property. In 1850, the last owner had the remains of the castle demolished so as not to have to pay taxes. The site comprises two parts. A lower part with remains of the castle (barbican, postern, wall) and those of the abbey, the latter being troglodytic (monks' cells; vaulted cavity; chapel; abbatial chair carved into the wall with sculptural decoration and traces of painting from the 9th century; north aisle with recesses and tombs; grain silos; wine cellar). The upper terrace divided in two by a deep cut. It is entirely covered with tombs carved into the rock. Most were filled in during the construction of the castle. A rainwater collection system with settling tank, gutters, cisterns, made up for the absence of a spring or well in the north-east part and especially in the lower part.