Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes - Abbey Church

The magnificent facade of the former Abbey Church in the village of Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes. The church has a total length of 72,30 meters and all of the 600 people living in Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes would easily find a chair inside. The church is a gem of poitevin architecture. The facade is very harmonious with three different levels.
When Prosper Mérimée visited Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes mid 19th century, the church (and its facade) were in a very bad state. Photograps taken some decades later show, that the facade was ruined. Prosper Mérimée efforts started a reconstruction and renovation process, that finally saved the structure. Today the facade is complete again, even the two turrets, that remind on Notre-Dame-la-Grande in Poitiers (50kms southeast), are back in place.

The history of this abbey dates back to the 4th century, when Jovinus (French "Jouin") in 342 founded a small oratory near a place named Ensio. Not much is known about Jovinus. He may have been borne in a wealthy family. It is believed, that his was brother of Saint Maximin, the first Bishop of Treves.

The oratory developed into a monastery over the next decades, that was the second monastery existing in France, just after Saint-Martin-de-Ligugé, founded by St. Martin of Tours himself in 361.

The erection of the Abbey Church took place between 1095 and 1130, when an old Roman road, known under the name of "Saint Hilaire’s Way" was followed by pilgrims on their way to Santiago. At that time the road was one of the many that belonged all to the "Via Turonensis".

Monastic life was ended by the French Revolution in 1789. The Abbey was sold as national property. The church got preserved and serves as a parish church since 1795. Parts of the former conventual buildings now belong to a privatly owned farm, next to the church.