Pont-à-Mousson Premonstratensian Abbey
The former Premonstratensian Abbey of Sainte-Marie-Majeure (Great Saint Mary) in Pont-à-Mousson , a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in the French region of Grand Est (formerly Lorraine ), was built in the Baroque style in the early 18th century built. The abbey, which extends over an area of 12,000 square meters, is one of the most important monasteries in Lorraine. In 1910 the church and parts of the abbey and in 1919 the entire monastery complex were added to the list of architectural monuments ( Base Mérimée ) in France as Monument historique .
history
Around 1608, Servais de Lairuelz, the abbot of the Premonstratensian monastery of Sainte-Marie-au-Bois in what is now the municipality of Vilcey-sur-Trey , arranged for his monastery to be relocated to a new location in Pont-à-Mousson, about ten kilometers away. The new monastery was near the 1572 founded by the Jesuit -led University of Pont-à-Mousson been built, to which it maintained a close connection. On the site of this monastery, Franz II Joseph von Lothringen , Prince Abbot of the Imperial Abbey of Stablo-Malmedy and brother of Duke Leopold of Lorraine , laid the cornerstone for the new abbey building in 1705 , which was built under the master builders and Premonstratensian lay friars Thomas for the next 30 years Mordillac and his successor Nicolas Pierson should arise.
After the death of Duke Stanislaus of Lorraine and the annexation of the duchy to France, the Jesuit order was banned as in all of France and the University of Pont-à-Mousson was relocated to Nancy , which also made the abbey less important.
During the French Revolution , the abbey was dissolved, but the buildings remained. In the 19th century, the diocese of Nancy established a school there, which was in operation until 1906. As a result of the law separating church and state , the abbey buildings then became the property of the city and were used as a hospital from 1912 to 1944. During the Second World War , the buildings were badly damaged and part of the monastery complex was destroyed. Between 1965 and 1976, a cultural center and a hotel were set up in the partially rebuilt and extensively restored monastery buildings. The choir of the former abbey church was not restored until 2014.
Former abbey church of Sainte-Marie-Majeure
The former abbey church of Sainte-Marie-Majeure is a three-aisled hall church that has a length of 66 meters, a width of 23 meters and a height of 18 meters. High capitals decorated with Corinthian columns structure the interior, which is illuminated by large arched windows.
The church is not east- facing, the choir is to the west and the entrance facade to the east. The choir, pierced by large arched windows, is structured by buttresses and flanked by two towers, the onion domes of which are crowned with lanterns .
The entrance facade is characterized by a central projectile and divided into three levels by strong cornices . Niches have been cut into the facade, framed by flat pilasters . The pilasters on the two upper floors are decorated with Corinthian capitals, the pilasters on the ground floor have Ionic capitals. The portal is embedded in a vestibule, which, like the upper floor, is crowned by a triangular gable. The middle level is provided with a segmented gable, on which a relief with angel heads, two angel figures and a Madonna and Child is carved.
Former abbey church, east facade
Segment gable with relief
Choir
Abbey building
West wing
In the west wing are the square staircase, the large sacristy , the study room and the Thomas Mordillac room, named after the first architect of the abbey church.
Square staircase
The grand staircase has ornate, wrought iron railings. The ceilings are provided with stucco , the passages to the floors are decorated with women's heads. The wide staircase extends over three floors, but the large staircase only leads to the first floor. A set of stairs leads to the second floor.
Square staircase
First and second floor
Staircase
Mascaron
Wrought iron railing
Wrought iron railing
Sacristy and study room
The large sacristy and the study room are covered by groin vaults that rest on fluted columns. The large sacristy was reserved for the priests and was used to prepare the worship service. Here the vestments, the liturgical vessels and the holy water were kept. A stone piscina has been preserved between two windows .
Study room
sacristy
Piscina
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North wing
In the north wing, the refectory is located in the west of the oval staircase and the chapter house in the east . At the western end of the gallery, adjacent to the chapter house, there is a small round staircase.
Oval staircase
The oval staircase, also known as the staircase of the atlantic , is located opposite the monumental door to the former dining room. The staircase rests on the shoulders of an atlas and leads to the second floor. On the first floor there are exhibition rooms on the history of the abbey and the library.
Oval staircase
Banisters
Atlant
Dining room
A monumental door leads to the dining room, above which are the coats of arms of the last abbot and bishop of Nancy, Charles Martial Lavigerie . Charles Martial Lavigerie's coat of arms was only added in the 19th century. The room is covered by a basket arch vault that rests on consoles decorated with the coats of arms of the Dukes of Lorraine. The medallions set into the floor take up the shapes of the stucco medallions on the ceiling.
Chapter House
The chapter house, also known as the Hall of Saint Norbert in memory of the founder of the Premonstratensian Order , was once the most richly decorated room in the abbey. When the abbey was used as a school and later as a hospital, the room served as a chapel.
Round staircase
The stairs of the small round staircase lead upwards in a spiral. A mascaron is attached to the ceiling above a round arch .
Round staircase
Banisters
Mascaron
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Warm room
The small square room next to the round staircase served as a warming room. It was restored after a fire in 1771. The room is covered by a basket arch vault that rests on richly carved consoles. The marble and stone floor is decorated in a trompe l'œil style. The warming room was the only room with a fireplace. A phoenix rising from the ashes is depicted above the fireplace .
console
stack
Phoenix over the fireplace
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Cloister
The cloister is enclosed by galleries on three sides and the church adjoins it on its south side. A scented garden has been created in its courtyard. The originally open galleries are now glazed.
East wing
West wing
gallery
Gardens
The gardens of the abbey extend over an area of 2.5 hectares.
Scented garden
The scented garden in the courtyard of the cloister was laid out in 2009. The flowers and scented plants that grow here are used to make perfumes.
Court of honor
The main courtyard was designed in 2018 as a French garden in the Baroque style with strictly arranged paths, flower beds and lawns, which are lined with obelisks and vases. The courtyard adjoins the main facade of the abbey in the south, behind the central projection of which the oval staircase is hidden. The western boundary of the courtyard forms the bank gallery , Galerie du Bord de l'Eau , the eastern boundary of the garden wing Galerie du Jardin .
Ufergalerie
Garden gallery
Court of honor
Moselle garden
To the west of the church and abbey building, the Moselle garden extends along the banks of the Moselle. It is planted with linden avenues and offers a wide view over the Moselle to the old town.
literature
- Abbaye des Prémontrés . Éditions de l'abbaye des Prémontrés, Pont-à-Mousson 2000.
- Abbaye des Prémontrés. Visite de l'Abbaye des Prémontrés . Leaflet
Web links
- Premonstratensian Abbey in Pont-à-Mousson Abbaye des Prémontrés
- Abbaye des Prémontrés Ville de Pont-à-Mousson
Individual evidence
- ↑ Former Premonstratensian Abbey of Sainte-Marie-Majeure in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
Coordinates: 48 ° 54 ′ 28 ″ N , 6 ° 3 ′ 21 ″ E