Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Chartreuse de Lugny, founded in 1172 by Gauthier de Bourgogne, 59th bishop of Langres, is one of the oldest Cartus monasteries in France. Contrary to a tenacious legend, it was not created by Saint Bruno, who died in 1101, but was the result of an episcopal donation aimed at ensuring sufficient land and income for the monks. Gauthier of Burgundy obtained gifts from the Canons of Saint-Étienne de Dijon, Templars, and Cistercians of Longuay, thus consolidating the material bases of the monastery. These exchanges, formalized by charters between 1170 and 1175, enabled the establishment of a community of 12 to 13 Chartreux fathers and about 20 lais brothers, responsible for agricultural work.

The Chartreuse enjoyed a first period of prosperity until the 14th century, marked by destruction during the Hundred Years' War (around 1366). Its recovery was ensured in 1382 by Gui VI de La Tremoille, a great chamberlain of Burgundy, who financed six new monastic squares and bought land to restore its vitality. In the 18th century, under the impetus of priors such as Dom Benoît Houasse and Fr. Goulard, the site was embellished: the church was renovated in a rococo style by Nicolas Pineau, and architect Edme Verniquet rebuilt cells and the large cloister. The monks then managed an estate of 850 hectares of forests, mills, and seigneurial rights.

The French Revolution ended the monastic life: the Chartreuse was sold as national property in 1791 to local buyers, including Jean-Baptiste Lagnier, master of forges. Turned into a earthenware in the 19th century, it is today a private property, partially opened during Heritage Days. Although the cloisters and houses of the fathers have disappeared, the church (reshuffled in the 16th and 18th centuries) and the corory remain. The baroque altar, transferred to Recey-sur-Ource, and the rock decorations bear witness to its fascinating past.

The site maintains a library of 800 books, archives deposited in the Gold Coast, and paintings like a Saint Jerome attributed to the Spanish. The Chartreux, forbidden from wine, exploited vineyards at Montbard and salines de Salins for their liturgical and food needs. The Chartreuse thus illustrates the balance between Cartus austerity and the management of a complex economic heritage, from the Middle Ages to the Revolution.

External links