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Origin and history

The abbey of Talloires, originally a Benedictine priory, was founded in the 11th century by Rodolphe III of Burgundy and his wife Ermengarde. In 1018, the estate of Talloires, including a church dedicated to Saint Mary, Saint Peter and Saint Maurice, was ceded to the monks of Savigny. Four monks, Ismius, Ismidon, Ruph and Germain, were sent to establish a religious community. Popes Pascal II, Calixte II and Eugene III confirmed his creation between 1107 and 1146. The priory became an influential place, receiving gifts like those of Count Guillaume I of Geneva, who offered tithes, houses and seigneurial rights over Annecy.

In the 17th century, the abbey, then in decline, was subjected to Salesian reform by François de Sales, despite internal resistance. In 1674, Pope Clement X founded a royal abbey, and extensions, such as a hospital and a maladry, were added in 1681. The French Revolution marked a tragic turning point: in 1792 the abbey was burned down and its archives destroyed. It did not rise and was partially destroyed in 1833. The abbey church served as a parish church until the end of the 18th century, before being replaced by the Saint-Maurice church.

In the 19th century, the site was transformed into a luxury hotel and restaurant, welcoming personalities such as Paul Cézanne, Mark Twain or Winston Churchill. In 1902, Gabriel Lippmann made the first colour photograph in the cloister. During World War II, the Germans installed their regional command there. Since 1944, the abbey has been classified as a historical monument, preserving its architectural heritage and its role in local history.

Architecturally, the abbey was inspired by seigneurial constructions, with a large room of prestige and defensive elements. It had two appendices: a 13th century hospice in the village and a leproserie near Angon, probably before the 13th century. These elements illustrate its religious, social and medical importance in the region.

Historical sources, such as the Régeste Genevais (1866) or the works of Abbé Vincent Brassier, document its evolution, from its foundation to its transformation into a hotel establishment. The archives, although partially lost, reveal links with figures such as Germain de Montfort, the first prior, whose relics were translated to Talloires under the impulse of François de Sales.

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