Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Vignory

It is proven, that the Abbazia di Sant'Antimo existed since Carolingian times. Legends (of course) know, that it was Charlemagne himself, who founded the abbey when he had left Rome, following the Via Francigana northward. The earliest document relating to the abbey is a land grant of Charlemagne´s son Louis the Pious from 813. One year after the 1117 Verona earthquake, that destroyed so many buildings in Northern Italy, the erection of the church of today started. At that time the a powerful abbey was one of the largest landowners in the area. The decline started in 1212, when, after a decade of hostility, an agreement stated that the abbey had to hand over a quarter of its territories to Siena, including Montalcino. With the rise of the Dominican and the Franciscan Order, the Benedictines lost more influence. In 1462 Pope Pius II surpressed the abbey (just like Abbadia Ardenga, see previous uploads), annexed what ever was left - and handed it over to the Bishop of of Montalcino-Pienza, who was Pius' nephew. The church is about 43 metres long, the nave is more than 20 metres high. There is an ambulatory (seen here) with three chapels. The church is often compared to Saint-Étienne in Vignory (consecrated ~ 1050 /Burgundy /~ 1000 kms northwest). The influence of French architects and artists, maybe connected to Cluny, is undisputed.

It is proven, that the Abbazia di Sant'Antimo existed since Carolingian times. Legends (of course) know, that it was Charlemagne himself, who founded the abbey when he had left Rome, following the Via Francigana northward. The earliest document relating to the abbey is a land grant of Charlemagne´s son Louis the Pious from 813. One year after the 1117 Verona earthquake, that destroyed so many buildings in Northern Italy, the erection of the church of today started. At that time the a powerful abbey was one of the largest landowners in the area. The decline started in 1212, when, after a decade of hostility, an agreement stated that the abbey had to hand over a quarter of its territories to Siena, including Montalcino. With the rise of the Dominican and the Franciscan Order, the Benedictines lost more influence. In 1462 Pope Pius II surpressed the abbey (just like Abbadia Ardenga, see previous uploads), annexed what ever was left - and handed it over to the Bishop of of Montalcino-Pienza, who was Pius' nephew. The church is about 43 metres long, the nave is more than 20 metres high. There is an ambulatory with three chapels at the eastern end. The church is often compared to Saint-Étienne in Vignory (consecrated ~ 1050 /Burgundy /~ 1000 kms northwest). The influence of French architects and artists, maybe connected to Cluny, is undisputed. In 1992 Canons Regular of the Order of Premontre had revitalized monastic life here, I saw them on my first visit. Meanwhile Benedictines from the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore live here.

The church of the former Priory Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Benoît is now the parish church of the village. I had visited Perrecy-les-Forges some years ago - and this time the church was indeed open! Charles Martel, grandfather of Charlemagne and leader of the frankish armee in the Battle of Tours (732), gave the Perrecey estate to his brother Childebrand as a gift to thank him for defeating the Sarascens in the valleys of the Rhone and the Saône in 732. Childebrands heirs bequeated it to the abbey of "Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire". First monks settled here 880/885. Some parts of the westwork may date back to the 9th century. 1020/1030 a romanesque basilica was constructed, one arm of the transept collapsed in 1095 - but got reconstructed soon after. 1120/1130 the narthex was added, which is a unique masterpiece. Though obviously the priory run out of funds and so the second tower was never completed. Over the next centuries more chapels were added. The monastery burnt down in 1500 and got dissolved in 1776 by a royal order. All existing buildings but the church got demolished after the French Revolution. The church lost its crossing tower - and as seen here the left aisle, as this once was a basilica with a higher nave and two flanking lower aisles. The wall that ends the nave may date to 1030. The architecture of the wall, that was once supported the crossing tower (with three others), reminds me of Saint-Étienne in Vignory, erected in the same decades.

Saint Bercharius (aka "Saint Berchaire") founded a monastery here in 670. Later it was Carolingian property, transferred by Louis the Pious to the bishop of Reims. In the early 10th century it was given up due to Viking attacks, but reestablished some decades later. The convent accepted the Gorze Reform before it changed to the Cluniac Reform later. The abbey was secularized at the French Revolution. In 1806 Napoleon established the National Stud Farm ("Le Haras National") in the grounds of the former monastery, to breed improved horses for the use of the cavalry. The former abbey church, seen here, now serves the parish of the small town. The church was consecrated in 998 - and many parts of the structure date back to the 10th century. The layout of walls of the nave is Romanesque and reminds to Vignory (40 km south/east). The Early Gothic choir was erected within the 12th and 13th century. Note the wooden roof.