Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Léhon

The abbey, dedicated to Saint Magloire of Dol, a Welsh monk who became Bishop of Dol-de-Bretagne and ended his life on the island of Sark (~575). The abbey was founded in the 9th century with a strong support of Nominoë, the legendary first Duke of Brittany. In 910, the Vikings raid the area and loot and destroy the monastery. The monks had left already. They transferred the relics of Saint-Magloire to Paris, where they founded a new Abbaye Saint-Magloire. The monks returned to Léhon and started to rebuilt from 1008 on. The abbey flourished, but was dependent from the Abbaye de Marmoutier (Tours), what caused trouble with all bishops around. In 1767 the last six monks left. The crumbling buildings were sold after the French Revolution and the church now serves the parish. Some of the formerly conventual buildings, around the old cloister, are used as the mayor´s office. The museum was closed, so the young lady, having a "Coquille Saint-Jacques" attached to her backpack, continued the long walk to Santiago de Compostela, about 1400 kms from Léhon. Ultreia!!

The abbey, dedicated to Saint Magloire of Dol, a Welsh monk who became Bishop of Dol-de-Bretagne and ended his life on the island of Sark (~575). The abbey was founded in the 9th century with a strong support of Nominoë, the legendary first Duke of Brittany. In 910, the Vikings raid the area and loot and destroy the monastery. The monks had left already. They transferred the relics of Saint-Magloire to Paris, where they founded a new Abbaye Saint-Magloire. The monks returned to Léhon and started to rebuilt from 1008 on. The abbey flourished, but was dependent from the Abbaye de Marmoutier (Tours), what caused trouble with all bishops around. In 1767 the last six monks left. The crumbling buildings were sold after the French Revolution and the church now serves the parish. When the monks returned to Léhon, the obviously brought back some of the Saint Magloire´s bones, that can now be seen in the "tresor". Saint Magloire, born in Wales around 500, is one of the many "Breton Saints", particularly venerated in Brittany. Relics of these saints were important already in early times. Legend tells, that Nominoë, hunting in the area, met six welsh monks here. He promised to support them, if the could source the relics of a "Breton Saint". Saint Magloire had died on the island of Sark, where - in his old age - he had founded a convent with about 60 monks. In a dark and cold night the monks from Léhon sailed over to the island of Sark and with Divine assistance they stole the relics of Saint Magloire - and sailed back. As soon as the relics were on the continent miracles happened - and Nominoë soon after "signed the first cheque". A week later the monks in Conques got a congratulation postcard from Léhon, as they just had successfully stolen the relics of Sainte Foy. In those days "pious larceny" was very popular.

The abbey, dedicated to Saint Magloire of Dol, a Welsh monk who became Bishop of Dol-de-Bretagne and ended his life on the island of Sark (~575). The abbey was founded in the 9th century with a strong support of Nominoë, the legendary first Duke of Brittany. In 910, the Vikings raid the area and loot and destroy the monastery. The monks had left already. They transferred the relics of Saint-Magloire to Paris, where they founded a new Abbaye Saint-Magloire. The monks returned and and started to rebuilt from 1008 on. The abbey flourished, but was dependent from the Abbaye de Marmoutier (Tours), what caused trouble with all bishops around. The convent had a long history, that ended when, in 1767, - the buildings were crumbling -, the last six monks left. The building were sold as "National Property" after the French Revolution and were used as a brewery for a while. Reconstruction started mid 19th century. The single nave church, built around 1190-1210, now serves the parish. The nicely sculpted, monolithic baptismal font (13th c.) was used in the older parish church, before it was moved to the former abbey church after the renovation. The "green men" on the bottom may stand for the pagan gods.

The abbey, dedicated to Saint Magloire of Dol, a Welsh monk who became Bishop of Dol-de-Bretagne and ended his life on the island of Sark (~575). The abbey was founded in the 9th century with a strong support of Nominoë, the legendary first Duke of Brittany. In 910, the Vikings raid the area and loot and destroy the monastery. The monks had left already. They transferred the relics of Saint-Magloire to Paris, where they founded a new Abbaye Saint-Magloire. The monks returned and and started to rebuilt from 1008 on. The abbey flourished, but was dependent from the Abbaye de Marmoutier (Tours), what caused trouble with all bishops around. The convent had a long history, that ended when, in 1767, - the buildings were crumbling -, the last six monks left. The building were sold as "National Property" after the French Revolution and were used as a brewery for a while. Reconstruction started mid 19th century. The single nave church, built around 1190-1210, now serves the parish. The restaurators did a great job. Drawings from the mid 19th century show this building in ruins, after the roof had collapsed. Near the walls are many tombs and effigies. The baptismal font (13th c.) on the right came from the old parish church.

The abbey, dedicated to Saint Magloire of Dol, a Welsh monk who became Bishop of Dol-de-Bretagne (25 kms east) and ended his life on the island of Sark (~575). The abbey was founded on the banks of the river Rance in the 9th century with a strong support of Nominoë, the legendary first Duke of Brittany. In 910, the Vikings raid the area and loot and destroy the monastery. The monks had left already. They transferred the relics of Saint-Magloire to Paris, where they founded a new Abbaye Saint-Magloire. The monks returned and and started to rebuilt from 1008 on. The abbey flourished, but was dependent from the Abbaye de Marmoutier (Tours), what caused trouble with all bishops around. The convent had a long history, that ended when, in 1767, - the buildings were crumbling -, the last six monks left. The building were sold as "National Property" after the French Revolution and were used as a brewery for a while. Reconstruction started mid 19th century. The church, built around 1190-1210, now serves the parish.