Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Pepin I

In 640 an abbey was founded here by Iduberga (aka Itta, Ida), wife of Pepin I (aka Pippin the Elder), majordomus under three Merovingian kings and forefather of the Carolingians. After Pepin´s death Iduberga moved into the convent and lived the life of a nun, while her daughter Gertrude became the first abbess here. The abbey began as a community of nuns. After Irish monks were sent by the (Irish) Abbot Foillan to give support to the nuns, a "double monastary" developed. For most of the Middle Ages the abbey remained an "Imperial Abbey" and from the 12th century, the community slowly changed as the members then became canonesses regular who came from among the nobility. The old abbey church, erected from 1000 on and consecrated in 1046, was destroyed by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. After WWII the church was rebuilt to its 11th and 13th centuries architecture. When I was here the last time, the crypt and the excavations under the nave were closed. Now they were open. The archeologists found out that five consecutive churches thad been built here between the 7th and the 10th century. Saint Gertrud was buried in the first of these churches, only about 20ms long and dedicated to Saint Peter.

In 640 an abbey was founded here by Iduberga (aka Itta, Ida), wife of Pepin I (aka Pippin the Elder), majordomus under three Merovingian kings and forefather of the Carolingians. After Pepin´s death Iduberga moved into the convent and lived the life of a nun, while her daughter Gertrude became the first abbess here. The abbey began as a community of nuns. After Irish monks were sent by the (Irish) Abbot Foillan to give support to the nuns, a "double monastary" developed. For most of the Middle Ages the abbey remained an "Imperial Abbey" and from the 12th century, the community slowly changed as the members then became canonesses regular who came from among the nobility. The old abbey church, erected from 1000 on and consecrated in 1046, was destroyed by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. After WWII the church was rebuilt to its 11th and 13th centuries architecture.

In 640 an abbey was founded here by Iduberga (aka Itta, Ida), wife of Pepin I (aka Pippin the Elder), majordomus under three Merovingian kings and forefather of the Carolingians. After Pepin´s death Iduberga moved into the convent and lived the life of a nun, while her daughter Gertrude became the first abbess here. The abbey began as a community of nuns. After Irish monks were sent by the (Irish) Abbot Foillan to give support to the nuns, a "double monastary" developed. For most of the Middle Ages the abbey remained an "Imperial Abbey" and from the 12th century, the community slowly changed as the members then became canonesses regular who came from among the nobility. The old abbey church, erected from 1000 on and consecrated in 1046, was destroyed by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. After WWII the church was rebuilt to its 11th and 13th centuries architecture.

In 640 an abbey was founded here by Iduberga (aka Itta, Ida), wife of Pepin I (aka Pippin the Elder), majordomus under three Merovingian kings and forefather of the Carolingians. After Pepin´s death Iduberga moved into the convent and lived the life of a nun, while her daughter Gertrude became the first abbess here. The abbey began as a community of nuns. After Irish monks were sent by the (Irish) Abbot Foillan to give support to the nuns, a "double monastary" developed. For most of the Middle Ages the abbey remained an "Imperial Abbey" and from the 12th century, the community slowly changed as the members then became canonesses regular who came from among the nobility. The old abbey church, erected from 1000 on and consecrated in 1046, was destroyed by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. After WWII the church was rebuilt to its 11th and 13th centuries architecture. Three scenes from the life of Samson are depicted on the portal´s tympanum. To the left Samson´s hair is cut off. Judges 18-19 "When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him."

In 640 an abbey was founded here by Iduberga (aka Itta, Ida), wife of Pepin I (aka Pippin the Elder), majordomus under three Merovingian kings and forefather of the Carolingians. After Pepin´s death Iduberga moved into the convent and lived the life of a nun, while her daughter Gertrude became the first abbess here. The abbey began as a community of nuns. After Irish monks were sent by the (Irish) Abbot Foillan to give support to the nuns, a "double monastary" developed. For most of the Middle Ages the abbey remained an "Imperial Abbey" and from the 12th century, the community slowly changed as the members then became canonesses regular who came from among the nobility. The old abbey church, erected from 1000 on and consecrated in 1046, was destroyed by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. After WWII the church was rebuilt to its 11th and 13th centuries architecture. Here is the central portal.

In 640 an abbey was founded here by Iduberga (aka Itta, Ida), wife of Pepin I (aka Pippin the Elder), majordomus under three Merovingian kings and forefather of the Carolingians. After Pepin´s death Iduberga moved into the convent and lived the life of a nun, while her daughter Gertrude became the first abbess here. The abbey began as a community of nuns. After Irish monks were sent by the (Irish) Abbot Foillan to give support to the nuns, a "double monastary" developed. For most of the Middle Ages the abbey remained an "Imperial Abbey" and from the 12th century, the community slowly changed as the members then became canonesses regular who came from among the nobility. The old abbey church, erected from 1000 on and consecrated in 1046, was destroyed by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. After WWII the church was rebuilt to its 11th and 13th centuries architecture. The church meanwhile is a parish church and what still exists of the fromer convent´s buildings is used by the town administration. Some of the civil servants can see the cloister from the offices. For tourists the cloister was locked, so I could only peep in through the gate.

In 640 an abbey was founded here by Iduberga (aka Itta, Ida), wife of Pepin I (aka Pippin the Elder), majordomus under three Merovingian kings and forefather of the Carolingians. After Pepin´s death Iduberga moved into the convent and lived the life of a nun, while her daughter Gertrude became the first abbess here. The abbey began as a community of nuns. After Irish monks were sent by the (Irish) Abbot Foillan to give support to the nuns, a "double monastary" developed. For most of the Middle Ages the abbey remained an "Imperial Abbey" and from the 12th century, the community slowly changed as the members then became canonesses regular who came from among the nobility. The old abbey church, erected from 1000 on and consecrated in 1046, was destroyed by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. After WWII the church was rebuilt to its 11th and 13th centuries architecture.

In 640 an abbey was founded here by Iduberga (aka Itta, Ida), wife of Pepin I (aka Pippin the Elder), majordomus under three Merovingian kings and forefather of the Carolingians. After Pepin´s death Iduberga moved into the convent and lived the life of a nun, while her daughter Gertrude became the first abbess here. The abbey began as a community of nuns. After Irish monks were sent by the (Irish) Abbot Foillan to give support to the nuns, a "double monastary" developed. For most of the Middle Ages the abbey remained an "Imperial Abbey" and from the 12th century, the community slowly changed as the members then became canonesses regular who came from among the nobility. The old abbey church, erected from 1000 on and consecrated in 1046, was destroyed by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. After WWII the church was rebuilt to its 11th and 13th centuries architecture.

In 640 an abbey was founded here by Iduberga (aka Itta, Ida), wife of Pepin I (aka Pippin the Elder), majordomus under three Merovingian kings and forefather of the Carolingians. After Pepin´s death Iduberga moved into the convent and lived the life of a nun, while her daughter Gertrude became the first abbess here. The abbey began as a community of nuns. After Irish monks were sent by the (Irish) Abbot Foillan to give support to the nuns, a "double monastary" developed. For most of the Middle Ages the abbey remained an "Imperial Abbey" and from the 12th century, the community slowly changed as the members then became canonesses regular who came from among the nobility. The old abbey church, erected from 1000 on and consecrated in 1046, was destroyed by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. After WWII the church was rebuilt to its 11th and 13th centuries architecture.

Saint-Jean-d'Angély developed once next to the "Abbaye Royale", founded in the 9th century by Pepin I of Aquitaine to house the skull of Saint John the Baptist. Pepin was one of Louis the Pious´ rebellious sons, who deposed their father in 833. During the Viking raids, the abbey was given up, but refounded thanks to Cluny. The abbey got wealthy and important, as most pilgrims, following the Via Turonensis, stopped here to worship the relics. The abbey got looted during the 100 Years War and burned down during the Wars of Religion, the former abbey church never got rebuilt. Rebuilt in the 17th and 18th century, the buildings of the former abbey now house the "Centre de Culture Européenne". The buildings of the Abbey got rebuilt in the 17th and 18th century, but still need a lot of maintenance. The area is used for cultural events. The buildings of the former abbey now house the "Centre de Culture Européenne" and offices of the municipal administration. Some of the former cells are rented out to "pelerins". The double-rooms are - very basic. Maybe the small dorms are better..

Saint-Jean-d'Angély developed once next to the "Abbaye Royale", founded in the 9th century by Pepin I of Aquitaine to house the skull of Saint John the Baptist. Pepin was one of Louis the Pious´ rebellious sons, who deposed their father in 833. During the Viking raids, the abbey was given up, but refounded thanks to Cluny. The abbey got wealthy and important, as most pilgrims, following the Via Turonensis, stopped here to worship the relics. The abbey got looted during the 100 Years War and burned down during the Wars of Religion. Here once was the large abbey church, before the Protestants raided and burnt down the abbey. That was when John the Baptist´s skull got lost. During the 18th century there were plans, to rebuild the church, but then the French Revolution put all that to an end. Only the western part of the church (right) got reconstructed in 1899.

Approaching Saint-Jean-d'Angély, a town that developed once next to the "Abbaye Royale", founded in the 9th century by Pepin I of Aquitaine to house the skull of Saint John the Baptist. Pepin was one of Louis the Pious´ rebellious sons, who deposed their father in 833. During the Viking raids, the abbey was given up, but refounded thanks to Cluny. The abbey got wealthy and important, as most pilgrims, following the Via Turonensis, stopped here to worship the relics. The abbey got looted during the 100 Years War and burned down during the Wars of Religion. The two massive towers are ruins of the former abbey church.