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Origin and history

The abbey of Varennes, located at Fougerolles in Indre, was founded in 1148 by Ebbes II de Déols, a prince of the House of La Châtre, who installed Cistercian monks from the abbey of Vauluisant. Built into a royal abbey by Henry II Plantagenet in 1155, it enjoyed two centuries of prosperity, benefiting from donations of land, forests and tax exemptions, such as that granted by Ythier de Magnac in 1276. An inventory of 1333, commissioned by Philippe VI de Valois, reveals income equivalent to that of the Abbey of Noirlac, showing its economic and religious importance.

From the 15th century, the abbey declined, gradually transforming itself into a farm run by merchant abbots. Monastic numbers decreased, forcing religious to use workers or rent land. In the 17th and 18th centuries his situation deteriorated further: his incomes fell to half of those of Noirlac. The French Revolution ended in 1790, with its conversion into a farm and the demolition of the cloister. The archives, not transferred, were destroyed on site.

The architecture of the abbey follows strictly the Cistercian plan: the church (XII century, renovated in the 13th century), the capitular room, the refectory (XIII century), and the buildings of the conversants. Major modifications took place at the end of the seventeenth century, such as the construction of the abbey house (from 1698) under the abbatiate of François de Castagnères, exiled to Varennes. In the 18th century, the church's transept and bedside were slaughtered, leaving only the nave. The site, protected since 1993-1994 (Historical Monument classification), has been in restoration since 1980 by its current owners.

In the 20th century, the abbey housed photographer Jenny de Vasson (1872-1920), who made part of her work there. His father, Paulin Girard de Vasson, a Republican magistrate, received artists from the Berry, such as poet Maurice Rollinat or sculptor Ernest Nivet. Today, the abbey, labeled Maisons des Illustres, partially opens to the public (July-September) and participates in Heritage Days. Its history combines religious heritage, economic decline and cultural revival.

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