Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The abbey of Notre-Dame-de-la-Charité, founded in 1133 in Franche-Comté by monks of Bellevaux Abbey, is part of the Cistercian movement. Located in the present communes of Neuvelle-lès-la-Charité and Fretigney-et-Vellorgue (Haute-Saône), it is supported by Adelaide de Traves and Archbishop Anseric de Besançon. His first abbot, Pierre de Vadans (1134–1162), oversees his growth, marked by donations and the foundation of the Abbey of Grace-Dieu in 1139. The abbey also developed industrial activity with iron forges and mines from the 12th century.

Over the centuries, the abbey suffered the ravages of regional conflicts: devastated in 1477 by the troops of Louis XI, looted during the wars of Religion (1569), then ruined in 1595 by the mercenaries of Henry IV. The Ten Years' War (1630–40) aggravated its damage, with a fire in 1638. Despite these trials, it rose in the 18th century, rebuilding its church (circa 1735), its abbey (circa 1750) and its commons (circa 1775), thanks to a renewed prosperity.

The French Revolution marked a turning point: the abbey was looted, sold as national property in 1791, and partially demolished. The abbey house is replaced by a castle in the 19th century, surrounded by a classic garden. In the 20th century, the site became a holiday colony before being acquired by an individual. Partially classified as historic monuments (1995 for the abbey, 2002 for the cooler), it preserves remains such as a pond, a mill, a dovecote, and the cooler, a witness to medieval conservation techniques.

Nearby, the Cistercian barn of Fontaine-Robert (18th century), registered in 1998, illustrates the extent of the abbey's possessions. Transformed into houses and stables, it recalls the economic and agricultural importance of the monastery. The Abbey of Notre-Dame de la Charité thus embodies almost seven centuries of religious, industrial and architectural history in Franche-Comté.

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