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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The abbey Saint-Gilbert de Neuffontaines was founded in 1152 by Gilbert de Neuffonts, who returned from crusade, in the commune of Saint-Didier-la-Forêt (Allier). This saint, patron saint of Bourbonnais, established a monastery of men and a leprosy under the order of the regular canons of Premontré. Gilbert was buried there, quickly becoming an object of veneration. The abbey, organized around a 900 m2 quadrilateral with a Latin cross church, a crenellated bell tower and conventual buildings, also played a judicial role.

During the Revolution, the abbey was sold as a national property on 13 April 1791 for 132,100 pounds to Jacques-Antoine de Combes des Morelle, a notable local. Turned into a farm, it underwent partial demolitions around 1850 (church, hotel) and deteriorated until 1950. Repurchase and restoration began, with a gradual rehabilitation from 1960. Today, the site hosts receptions and guest rooms on a free visit.

The remaining buildings, classified or listed in the Historical Monuments (1969 and 2001), illustrate Cistercian Romanesque architecture. The building is, sheltering the capitular hall (spanning of warheads) and the heater (spanning of ridges), dates from the 12th century. To the west, the old hospital keeps its dorm upstairs. The Abbatial house, built in 1779 outside the enclosure, completes the whole. Capitals of the church are preserved at the Moulins Museum.

The abbey underwent several phases of transformation: redevelopment of the cells in the 18th century, collapse of the bell tower arrow in 1612, and partition between two owners in the 19th century (cadastre of 1839). Modern restorations have preserved two medieval buildings connected by a covered passage, as well as the 18th century house, now in excellent condition.

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