Ancienne abbaye Notre-Dame de la Couronne

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

Major edifice representing the introduction of Gothic to Angoumois at the end of the 12th century. In the 12th century, foundation of the abbey of Notre-Dame de la Couronne (from 1118, laying of the first stone). Work proceeded rapidly and on 12 March 1122, the religious (of the regular order of Saint Augustine) settled in the presence of bishop Girard de Blay and the count of Angoulême. From its creation, the abbey enjoyed great success: a new church was built at the end of the 12th century (choir and nave: 1171-1194; the end of the building campaign was slowed by wars, famines, etc.): it was dedicated in 1201, in the presence of the archbishop of Bordeaux. The conventual buildings were also renewed in the late 12th and early 13th century: cloisters, dormitory, refectory, infirmary, etc. An enclosure wall came to surround the abbey. During the 13th century, enrichment of the furnishings, construction of the chapel of Saint-Nicolas and building of the bell tower. During the Hundred Years War, the monks were dispersed, the bell tower collapsed (1450). At the end of the 15th century, the abbey was reborn: part of the collapsed church was re-erected, a new abbatial dwelling was built (work was completed after 1514). The Wars of Religion again affected the abbey: it was pillaged in 1562, part of its furnishings were burnt. The conventual buildings were restored from 1571. In the early 17th century, the abbey, which now had only eight religious, was united with the order of the Jesuits; it was subsequently placed under the obedience of the congregation of Sainte-Geneviève in 1644. In the 18th century, a final campaign of works (1750-1778) transformed the conventual buildings. At the Revolution, the abbey became national property. It was sold in 1807, served as a quarry and was gradually dismantled and divided into several properties.