Grosbois Monastery
| Grosbois Cistercian Abbey | |
|---|---|
 Grosbois Abbey (Grosbot) |
|
| location |
 FranceRegion Nouvelle-Aquitaine Charente department |
| Coordinates: | 45 ° 33 '8 " N , 0 ° 23' 51" E |
| Serial number according to Janauschek |
394 |
| founding year | 975 by Benedictines |
| Cistercian since | after 1142 |
| Year of dissolution / annulment |
1791 |
| Mother monastery | Obazine Monastery |
| Primary Abbey | Citeaux monastery |
|
Daughter monasteries |
no |
The Grosbois Monastery (or Grosbot Monastery ) is a former Cistercian abbey in the Charras commune in the Charente department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France , in the Fôret d'Horte around 23 km southeast of Angoulême . The complex is protected as a monument historique .
etymology
The original name Fontvive (or Fontaine-vive ), Latin fontis vivi , (in German living source ) refers to the obviously quite powerful pouring spring. The later name Grosbois (or Grosbot ) goes back to the Latin grossum boscum ( large forest ) and alludes to its location in the extensive wooded area of the Forêt d'Horte .
Geography, geology and access
The Grosbois monastery - Abbaye de Notre Dame de Grosbot or Beate Maria de Grosso Bosco - is located about 400 meters south of the hamlet of Grosbot , which belongs to the municipality of Charras , at about 145 meters above sea level . It is located in a small valley that initially opens to the east, but then turns in the northeast direction. A small stream flows through this valley, which rises only slightly further west of the monastery complex. Its source was enclosed and its initial run channeled to supply water to the monastery and its gardens. Two fish ponds were created a little below the monastery. Due to a dwindling river, the valley turns northeast after about 3 kilometers into a dry valley .
The facility was built on Pleistocene colluvium that emerged from river gravel - covering sediments of the underlying Upper Cretaceous .
The monastery can be reached via a gravel road that branches off to the right from the D 25 (Charras - Sers ). The junction is located northeast of Charras and is around 1500 meters from the town center.
history
The monastery was founded around the year 975 under the name Fontvive initially belonged to the Benedictine order , then placed himself under the Obazine Abbey , joined with this by 1142 (according to any other indication in 1166) to the Cistercian Order in and belonged in this the filiation of Cîteaux Abbey to. The name change to Grosbois took place in 1180. The original founder of Grosbois was the noble family La Rochefoucauld, lands were donated by the Counts of Lusignan and the Lords of Mareuil. In the 12th and 13th centuries the monastery was very wealthy and had many grangia in its vicinity. His influence lasted until shortly before La Rochelle . He also owned mills, smithies and townhouses in Angoulême, La Rochefoucauld and Périgueux . However, the first decline had already taken place at the beginning of the 14th century, triggered by the plague epidemics and the Hundred Years War . The consequence was that the fields initially cultivated by lay brothers were now left to their own devices. To counteract this, the abbot felt compelled to lease the fields permanently. During the Huguenot Wars of the 16th century, the church was damaged and lost its pointed barrel vault. The monks were also chased out by the Huguenots in 1568 and did not return until 1580. Between 1641 and 1673 the abbot Jean de la Font restored the monastery in the classicist style and at the beginning of the 18th century it once again experienced a temporary heyday. During the French Revolution , however, the monastery came to an end in 1791, when the land and buildings were sold as a so-called bien national . The church and monastery were then converted into an agricultural property.
Buildings and plant
church
The church is believed to have been built in the last third of the twelfth century. It is not a typical Cistercian church (the east-facing church is located south of the convent building), but with its rounded apse is reminiscent of the Cistercian churches of Cadouin and Boschaud .
It originally had two apsidioles , which were replaced by straight walls with window openings during the Huguenot Wars. Only the outer walls of the church are now preserved; the last third of the vault collapsed in 1991. The transept was separated from the once three- bay nave by a wall . The preserved main apse is semicircular. The crossing is dominated by a pendent dome , which is fully supported for safety.
North transept
The north transept was walled up towards the crossing during the French Revolution, the east side was torn open and turned into a barn door.
Cloister
The cloister , which is square in plan , was covered by a simple wooden beam ceiling, the holes provided for the beams can still be seen in places on the outer wall of the convent building.
Chapter House
Two arched windows with the door in between are still preserved from the former chapter house in the inner courtyard wall, the interior was redesigned during the classicist renovation in the seventeenth century. The dormitory was once located above the chapter house and was connected to the north wing by a stone staircase. The monks thus had direct access to the church.
East wing
The east wing was completely renovated in the seventeenth century and formed the main entrance to the monastery complex. The outer walls were partially preserved, the new window openings were inspired by the style of the Obazine Monastery from the thirteenth century. The rather unusual roof is covered with slate on the steep sloping roof, over which there are tiles. Attic windows were attached to the external slope.
North wing
Original windows from the twelfth century can also be seen in the north wing. It was renewed along with the east wing in the seventeenth century. The refectory , kitchen and wine cellar were located here.
West wing
The west wing was not renewed until the beginning of the eighteenth century . In it lodged converses who had their own kitchen and their own bedrooms. The stables, barns and other utility buildings are located on this side of the monastery. The west wing fell into disrepair after the French Revolution. After a fire in 1990, it was restored in 1991.
evaluation
The monastery, which was fundamentally renewed in the seventeenth century, bears witness to the very luxurious lifestyle of the monks at the time, in contrast to the order's initial simplicity. Almost all of the rooms had their own fireplace, the monks had their private bedrooms and the rather simple cloister had given way to an elegant Cours d'Honneur . The monastery’s extensive lands were leased.
literature
- Bernard Peugniez: Routier cistercien. Abbayes et sites. France, Belgique, Luxembourg, Suisse. Nouvelle édition augmentée. Éditions Gaud, Moisenay 2001, ISBN 2-84080-044-6 , p. 392.
