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Abbey of Saint-Gildas-des-Bois en Loire-Atlantique

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine religieux
Abbaye
Eglise romane et gothique
Loire-Atlantique

Abbey of Saint-Gildas-des-Bois

    19 Rue du Docteur Praux
    44530 Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Property of the municipality; property of a cultural association
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Abbaye de Saint-Gildas-des-Bois
Crédit photo : Jibi44 - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
début XIe siècle
Foundation of the Abbey
fin XIIe siècle
Construction of the abbey church
1492
Beginning of Commende
1645
Reconstruction by Mauritians
1790
Revolutionary suppression
1944
Bombing and partial destruction
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Abbatial Church (Box AB 84): Order of 30 December 1994 - The facades and roofs of the convent buildings, as well as the buildings of the community of the Sisters of the Christian Instruction of Saint-Gildas-des-Bois, and the plate of the corresponding land (Box AB 460): inscription by decree of 2 July 2003

Key figures

Félix - Abbé de Saint-Gildas de Rhuys Initiator of the foundation in the 11th century.
Simon Ier de la Roche-Bernard - Local Lord Giver of land for the abbey.
Helogon - First Abbé of Saint-Gildas-des-Bois Directed the community from 1026/1039.
Jean Bohier - Merchant Abbé (1492) Marked the decline of the abbey.
Gabriel Deshayes - Abbé and buyer (post-Revolution) Set up an educational congregation in the buildings.
Pascal Convert - Contemporary Artist (2007) Creator of children-inspired crystal stained glass windows.

Origin and history

The abbey of Saint-Gildas-des-Bois was founded in the early 11th century by Félix, abbot of Saint-Gildas de Rhuys, as part of a post-vik evangelization project in Brittany. With the support of Simon I of the Roche-Bernard, local lord, and monks detached from Redon Abbey, it became a major religious home. The relics of St Gildas, reported by Rhuys, attracted pilgrims for the "evil of St Gildas" (folio), strengthening his prestige. The early church, considered too small, was replaced at the end of the 12th century by the present building, remarkable for its Romanesque stylistic unit.

In the 15th century, the abbey adopted the system of commende under Jean Bohier (1492), named by Charles VIII, marking its decline: the abbots, now outside, no longer resided there. Despite the wars of Religion, the Maurists raised the monastery in the mid-17th century (1645). In 1790 the Revolution abolished the abbey, but Abbé Gabriel Deshayes bought the buildings to set up an educational congregation. The church, classified as a historical monument in 1994, was restored after the 1944 bombings which destroyed its bell tower and stained glass windows.

The architecture of the Abbey reflects its turbulent history. The abbey church, in ferroruginous sandstone ("russard"), combines Cistercian counting with Breton influences, like the great Renaissance Bay (1533) financed by Jean V of Brittany. The choir (XII century) preserves 36 17th century stalls, while the capitular hall (XV century) and the fence of the monks (1711) testify to monastic life. The contemporary stained glass windows (2007), inspired by the children of the Salpêtrière, evoke the dedication to Saint Gildas, protector of the "mad".

External links