Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Abbaye 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 (Poitou) fled the norman invasion, they found shelter in that castle. With them they had carried the relics of Saint-Leger and Saint Maixent, being probably the most valuable possesion they had. The castle was given to the monks by Louis´son, opponent and successor Lothair and 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 in medieval times. Times changed over the centuries. In 1744 "Abbe Sade", uncle of the Marquis de Sade got this abbey as a prebendary. The abbey was financially ruined. Already in 1768, years before the Revolution, the abbey was given up and old buildings were used as a hospital. Here is one of the two lion-heads from the doors. The wooden doors had been covered by red dyed leather. I do not think that this is still the original leather. The inscription around the plate reads "ADEST PORTA PER QUAM JUSTI REDEUNT AD PATRIAM" (This is the door through which the righteous ones return home).

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 (Poitou) fled the norman invasion, they found shelter in that castle. With them they had carried the relics of Saint-Leger and Saint Maixent, being probably the most valuable possesion they had. The castle was given to the monks by Louis´son, opponent and successor Lothair and 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 in medieval times. Times changed over the centuries. In 1744 "Abbe Sade", uncle of the Marquis de Sade got this abbey as a prebendary. The abbey was financially ruined. Already in 1768, years before the Revolution, the abbey was given up and old buildings were used as a hospital. Behind the altar, in the center of the gothic choir is the shrine holding the relics of 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 (Poitou) fled the norman invasion, they found shelter in that castle. With them they had carried the relics of Saint-Leger and Saint Maixent, being probably the most valuable possesion they had. The castle was given to the monks by Louis´son, opponent and successor Lothair and 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 in medieval times. Times changed over the centuries. In 1744 "Abbe Sade", uncle of the Marquis de Sade got this abbey as a prebendary. The abbey was financially ruined. Already in 1768, years before the Revolution, the abbey was given up and old buildings were used as a hospital. Standing in the nave facing east. The total length of the church is - 46 meters. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne Romane") found five different building phases (961 - 1200). He claims, that the restauration works done in the 19th century destroyed a lot of the original structure. From this point of view, the nave seems pretty homogenious. Light comes in from the clerestory. The nave was never vaulted. The timber roof truss above is probably very similar to the original roof structure 12th century.

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 (Poitou) fled the norman invasion, they found shelter in that castle. With them they had carried the relics of Saint-Leger and Saint Maixent, being probably the most valuable possesion they had. The castle was given to the monks by Louis´son, opponent and successor Lothair and 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 in medieval times. Times changed over the centuries. In 1744 "Abbe Sade", uncle of the Marquis de Sade got this abbey as a prebendary. The abbey was financially ruined. Already in 1768, years before the Revolution, the abbey was given up and old buildings were used as a hospital. The doors, leading from the narthex to the nave, have some romanesque iron works including two different lion-heads. Above the entrance are three sculptures of the former tympanum, these were found buried under the floor of the church in 1860.

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 (Poitou) fled the norman invasion, they found shelter in that castle. With them they had carried the relics of Saint-Leger and Saint-Maixent, being probably the most valuable possession they had. The castle was given to the monks by Louis´son, opponent 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 in medieval times. Times changed over the centuries. In 1744 "Abbe Sade", uncle of the Marquis de Sade got this abbey as a prebendary. The abbey was financially ruined. Already in 1768, years before the Revolution, the abbey was given up and old buildings were used as a hospital. The narthex is very impressing. I have the impression, that the architect, who did this, had seen Saint-Benoît sur Loire before. Saint-Benoit is much more massive, but the idea of a narthex-tower can be seen there as well. To the very right is the portal to buildings of the former monastery.

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.