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Origin and history

Lannoy Abbey, also known as Briostel Abbey, was founded in 1135 by local lords, including Lambert de Bretizel and Guillaume Bisette, on the parish of Briotel. Initially Benedictine, she became Cistercian in 1147 after the incorporation of the Savigny congregation into the Order of Cîteaux. The monks settled permanently in 1137 in the Petit Thérain valley, where the abbey took the name of Notre-Dame de L'Aunoie.

In the 12th century, the abbey experienced an expansion thanks to numerous donations of lands and seigneurial rights, confirmed by papal bubbles and royal protections. Barns were created to exploit the remote lands, and villages like Halloy were built into parishes. However, the Hundred Years' War caused significant damage to the abbey's properties, marking the beginning of its decline.

In 1536, the abbey passed under the regime of commende, with Jean de Sarcus as the first abbey commendataire. The 17th and 18th centuries saw major reconstructions, notably after the destruction of the Huguenots in 1592 and the destruction caused by storms and floods. The abbey was finally sold as a national property in 1791, and its buildings were partially demolished or reused.

The current remains include the former Abbatial Hotel, the 17th and 18th century Conventual Buildings, a farm, a mill and a house of justice. The Abbey, formerly of Gothic style, was largely destroyed after the Revolution. Some elements, such as the high altar, were preserved in the church of Saint Maur.

The abbey of Lannoy illustrates the evolution of monastic settlements in Picardia, moving from a Benedictine foundation to a prosperous Cistercian abbey, before suffering the vagaries of wars, reforms and the Revolution. Its buildings, now protected, bear witness to its rich architectural and historical past.

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