Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Abbey of the Guillemins, originally called Priory of the Val Notre-Dame, was founded in 1255 by Baudouin de Dours under the invocation of Notre-Dame and Saint-Guillaume. Occupied by the Guillemites (or Guillemins), it was confirmed by a papal bubble of Urbain IV in 1267 and letters-patentes of Marguerite of Flanders. Maximilian I, king of the Romans, granted confirmatory degrees in 1493-1494. At that time, the abbey housed 30 to 40 religious, but their number declined until 1765, when Louis XV prohibited them from receiving novices.

The French Revolution marked a turning point: in 1789 the religious resisted an attack before dispersing, leaving the abbey in the custody of the commune. In 1791 inventories were made, and in 1793 lead coffins were sent to Cambrai to be molten into weapons. The site was then partially abandoned and then occupied by Cossacks between 1815 and 1818. In the 19th century, the Delambre family renovated the buildings (pignon, stables, concierge) and exploited the land.

In the 21st century, the Abbey has been a member of ACCES since 2008. Today, it is open to the public as an accompanying farm and room rental, managed by the ACFDC association. Underground shelters, known as quarries of the abbey, would still be present under the buildings, formerly linking the site to the nearby castle of Esnes.

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