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Origin and history

The abbey of Saint-Martin-aux-Bois, originally named the abbey of Rurecourt, was founded around 1080 by monks or regular canons of St Augustine. Located in the present department of Oise (Hautes-de-France), it was a major religious place until its dispersion in 1790. Its church, classified in 1840, is a 13th century Gothic masterpiece, marked by an apse in glass cage and a bold elevation, without nave or transept.

The history of the Abbey is marked by periods of prosperity and decline. In the 12th century, it received many donations, but the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) was the ravage: the English burned in 1445, destroying much of the buildings. Partly rebuilt in the 15th century, it passed under the administration of the abbots commundataires from 1492, including Guy de Baudreuil, who undertook restoration and beautification works, such as the construction of the sacristy in 1521.

In the 17th century, the Jesuits settled there (1675-1772), but the abbey gradually declined. In 1790 his last six monks dispersed, and his property was sold as national property. The church, spared because it was used as a parish church, suffered degradation until its partial restoration from 1869. Today, it remains an exceptional testimony of Gothic architecture, despite persistent conservation challenges.

The abbey was a spiritual and economic centre with lands, priories and seigneurial rights in the area. Its church, without a nave, is distinguished by an imposing choir and an innovative apse, subdivided by stone studs, a rare technique for the era. The glass windows in grey, the 15th century stalls and the Renaissance door of the sacristy are among his artistic treasures.

The remains of the convent buildings, such as the Galata (12th century, refectory and guest house), the wall and the dovecote, have been protected since 1984. Despite restorations, the whole is suffering from a lack of resources, reflecting the difficulties of small municipalities in preserving such an ambitious heritage. The church, always open to worship, attracts visitors for its unique architecture, although unknown.

The topography of the Abbey, located near the source of the Aronde and the former Brunehaut roadway, highlights its historical importance in regional exchanges. Its name, Saint-Martin-aux-Bois, comes from the surrounding forests, now extinct, which surrounded the monastery until the 18th century. Archaeological excavations never confirmed the existence of a first abbey before the 12th century, leaving shades of its exact origins.

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