Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Abbey of Auberive, founded in 1135 by Saint Bernard, Abbé de Clairvaux, embodies the Cistercian ideal. Located in a marshy valley near the Aube River, the monks set up a monastic space there by turning the stream to build the abbey according to the Cistercian type plan. This site, initially isolated, became a flourishing monastic place of life thanks to the gifts of local lords, including the bishop of Langres.

In the 13th century, the abbey reached its peak with 11 barns, 14 mills, iron and salt mines, and vineyards near Dijon and Mussy-sur-Seine. However, the 14th and 15th centuries, poorly documented, revealed a decline marked by the Hundred Years' War, reducing the herd of sheep from 2,540 to 600 heads. The abbey had to rent its land for lack of conversance, keeping only the sanctuary of the abbey church and the gate of the refectory from the Middle Ages.

The 16th century introduced the beginning: François I granted Louis de Rye, the first abbot to trade, the right to receive a third of the abbey's income. This century also saw the construction of the Abbatial Palace, typical of the Renaissance, and the looting during the Wars of Religion (1567, 1587). Martial de Lévis, the only regular abbot among the 14 comndataires, tries to straighten the abbey, but financial difficulties persist.

In the 18th century, almost total reconstruction was financed by the sale of 1,700 hectares of forest. The monks adopt an ambitious plan: the west wing, transformed into a guest residence, has a classic facade, while the east wing, raised to fight against moisture, is rebuilt by architect François Buron. The abbey church, demolished except its medieval choir, is reoriented. In 1789, the Revolution dispersed the last eight monks, and the abbey, sold as a national good, barely escaped total destruction.

From 1791 to 1854, the abbey passed into the hands of private individuals: Abel Caroillon de Vandeul, the son-in-law of Diderot, installed a cotton spinning (1797-1807) before making it a pleasure residence. His son sold it in 1825 to the forge master Bordet, who dismantled the 18th century church to build a blast furnace and turned the mill into an orange factory. In 1856, the State made it a prison for women, then a colony for minors, including Louise Michel (1871-1873), figure of the Paris Commune.

From 1927 to 1960, the abbey briefly regained a monastic vocation: Bishop Vladimir Ghika founded a mixed community there, quickly replaced by Benedictines of Paris. The latter establish conservatory orchards and rediscover the medieval sanctuary of the church. In 1960, the abbey was bought by Solvay, and in 2005 it opened up to the public as a centre of contemporary art and cultural place, while preserving its historic orchard and abbey palace of the sixteenth century, now transformed into an inn.

Future

Today it is the seat of a contemporary art centre with a musical and festive season during the summer.

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