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Origin and history

Saint-Philibert de Tournus Abbey, founded in the 9th century, is a former Benedictine monastery located in the town of Tournus, in Saône-et-Loire. His history began in 875, when the monks of the Abbey of Noirmoutier, fleeing the Viking invasions, settled in Tournus with the relics of Saint Philibert. The site, already marked by the martyrdom of Saint Valerian in the second century, becomes a place of pilgrimage and a major spiritual center under the protection of the Carolingians.

The abbey church, rebuilt from the 11th century after a fire in 1006, is a masterpiece of Romanesque art. It is distinguished by its crypt, its walk-through, and its archaic corintising capitals. The nave, vaulted by transverse cradles, illustrates a rare architectural innovation. Over the centuries, the abbey underwent transformations, especially in the 12th century, with the addition of towers and carved decorations, then restorations in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The abbey experienced troubled periods, such as the bag by the Huguenots in 1562, which destroyed part of the relics and library. In 1627 it was secularized and transformed into a college of canons. During the Revolution, it became a " Temple of Reason" before being returned to worship in 1802. Today, the abbey church is still parish, while the partially preserved convent buildings house museums and cultural spaces.

The vestiges of the cloister, the capitular hall (XIII century), and the refectory (XII century) bear witness to medieval monastic life. The tower of the Treasurer, the tilery of the Moutier, and the remains of the fortified enclosure, classified or listed in the Historical Monuments, complete this ensemble. In 2019, Tournus celebrated the millennium of the consecration of the altar of the choir, recalling the historical and spiritual importance of this place.

Saint-Philibert Abbey is also known for its artistic treasures, such as the mosaic of the Zodiac (12th century) rediscovered in 2000, or the statue of Notre-Dame la Brune, saved during the Revolution. Its 17th-century organ, listed as a Historic Monument, and its contemporary stained glass windows add to its rich heritage. Since 2014, an association has been campaigning for its registration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Archaeological excavations and studies reveal links with antiquity, such as the replica of the basilica of Maxence in the fore-nef, or the merovingian sarcophagi exposed in the cloister. The peregrinations of the monks of Noirmoutier, their installation in Tournus, and the Carolingian donations shaped an abbey with European influence, the head of a monastic network extending from Aquitaine to Lotharingia.

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