Ébreuil - Saint-Léger

Louis the Pious (aka "Louis I the Fair)", King of Aquitaine, the only surviving adult son of Charlemagne, had a castle here.

When in 898, the monks of Saint-Maixent, fled the norman invasion, they found shelter in that castle. With them they had carried the relics of Saint-Leger and Saint Maixent. Probably the most valuable possessions they had. The castle was given to the monks by Louis´ son and successor Lothair and from then on transformed into a monastery. Between the 10th and the 13th century, the very large abbey church was erected. Through the pilgrimage to the valuable relics, that were on display here, the abbey got pretty important.

Times changed a lot over the centuries. In 1744 Jacques-François-Paul-Aldonce de Sade (aka "Abbe Sade") got this abbey as a prebendary, a friend of Voltaire. In 1762 he was in jail for a short time, accused for sexual misconduct. His nephew was the Donatien-Alphonse-François, the well known Marquis de Sade.

Since the French Revolution Saint-Leger serves as a parish church.

Here, facing south, only the narthex (right) and the nave of Saint-Leger can be seen.