Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Giraud de Sales

I had met somebody, who had told me about a "forgotten" abbey near the hamlet Saint-Sigismond-de-Clermont. I finally found the "Château de la Tenaille", that obviously once had been an abbey. It was not only locked, the grounds were fenced as well. This was "private property" - and nobody was around I could ask for permission to enter. It seemed abandoned.... I - well - could find a little hole - sneaked in - and slowly approached the buildings. The facade of the former abbey church has the design that is so typical for Romanesque churches in the Saintonge. The portal is bricked up. Opposite the church were two large barns in better conditions. They were obviously still in use until some decades ago. Here is one of the gables. - Meanwhile I know, that this indeed was an abbey, founded in the early 12th century by Giraud de Sales, who was the founder of many convent in western France. The abbey was sold after the French Revolution. The church dates back to the 12th century, while most other buildings were completed within the 18th century. Here is a pdf with infos: file:///D:/_eigene_Dateien/Downloads/Abbaye%20de%20la%20Tenaille.pdf

I had met somebody, who had told me about a "forgotten" abbey near the hamlet Saint-Sigismond-de-Clermont. I finally found the "Château de la Tenaille", that obviously once had been an abbey. It was not only locked, the grounds were fenced as well. This was "private property" - and nobody was around I could ask for permission to enter... I - well - could find a little hole - sneaked in - and slowly approached the buildings. The facade of the former abbey church has the design that is so typical for Romanesque churches in the Saintonge. The pyramid is a little strange and is for sure a later alteration. The portal is bricked up. It looks like all carvings are lost. During Baroque times a top was added. - Meanwhile I know, that this indeed was an abbey, founded in the early 12th century by Giraud de Sales, who was the founder of many convent in western France. The abbey was sold after the French Revolution. The church dates back to the 12th century, while most other buildings were completed within the 18th century. Here is a pdf with infos: file:///D:/_eigene_Dateien/Downloads/Abbaye%20de%20la%20Tenaille.pdf

I had met somebody, who had told me about a "forgotten" abbey near the hamlet Saint-Sigismond-de-Clermont. I finally found the "Château de la Tenaille", that obviously once had been an abbey. It was not only locked, the grounds were fenced as well. This was "private property" - and nobody was around I could ask for permission to enter... I - well - could find a little hole - sneaked in - and slowly approached the buildings. The facade of the former abbey church has the design that is so typical for Romanesque churches in the Saintonge. The pyramid is a little strange and is for sure a later alteration. The portal is bricked up. It looks like all carvings are lost. - Meanwhile I know, that this indeed was an abbey, founded in the early 12th century by Giraud de Sales, who was the founder of many convent in western France. The abbey was sold after the French Revolution. The church dates back to the 12th century, while most other buildings were completed within the 18th century. Here is a pdf with infos: file:///D:/_eigene_Dateien/Downloads/Abbaye%20de%20la%20Tenaille.pdf

I had met somebody, who had told me about a "forgotten" abbey near the hamlet Saint-Sigismond-de-Clermont. I finally found the "Château de la Tenaille", that obviously once had been an abbey. It was not only locked, the grounds were fenced as well. This was "private property" - and nobody was around I could ask for permission to enter... I - well - could find a little hole - sneaked in - and slowly apporached the buildings. The facade of the church (left) and the "château"-building in the background. All seems to be abandoned - and the church´s portal is bricked up. - Meanwhile I know, that this indeed was an abbey, founded in the early 12th century by Giraud de Sales, who was the founder of many convent in western France. The abbey was sold after the French Revolution. The church dates back to the 12th century, while most other buildings were completed within the 18th century. Here is a pdf with infos: file:///D:/_eigene_Dateien/Downloads/Abbaye%20de%20la%20Tenaille.pdf

I had met somebody, who had told me about a "forgotten" abbey near the hamlet Saint-Sigismond-de-Clermont. I finally found the "Château de la Tenaille", that obviously once had been an abbey. It was not only locked, the grounds were fenced as well. This was "private property" - and nobody was around I could ask for permission to enter... I - well - could find a little hole - sneaked in - and slowly apporached the buildings . . - Meanwhile I know, that this indeed was an abbey, founded in the early 12th century by Giraud de Sales, who was the founder of many convents in western France. The abbey was sold after the French Revolution. The church dates back to the 12th century, while most other buildings were completed within the 18th century. Here is a pdf with infos: file:///D:/_eigene_Dateien/Downloads/Abbaye%20de%20la%20Tenaille.pdf