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Origin and history

The Abbey of Notre-Dame de Corneux, located in Saint-Broing in Haute-Saône (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté), is a former monastery of the Order of the Premontrés. Founded in 1133 by prior Raimbaud, canon of Saint-Paul de Besançon, it was initially placed under the dependence of this abbey before being transferred in 1134 to the pre-monstrates of Saint-Martin de Laon. This religious site, marked by a medieval history, underwent a major reconstruction in the eighteenth century, under the direction of the architects Dom Vincent Duchesne (for the cloisters from 1708) and Jean-Charles Colombot (for the church, built between 1759 and 1763).

The French Revolution marked a turning point for the abbey: sold as a national good, it was transformed into a castle, while its church was destroyed. At the beginning of the 20th century (circa 1920), the western wing was demolished, leaving only the eastern and southern wings of the claustral buildings, as well as their cloister galleries. The archaeological remains and enclosures, protected since 2003 by an inscription in the Historical Monuments, today bear witness to its monastic and architectural past.

The Abbey illustrates the evolution of religious establishments in Franche-Comté, moving from a monastic place of life to a preserved historical heritage. Its architecture thus combines medieval and classical elements, reflecting the cultural and political transformations of the region, from its foundation in the 12th century to its revolutionary secularization. The plans of architects Duchesne and Colombot, although partially disappeared, remain associated with his artistic and spiritual heritage.

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