Saint-Aignan d'Orléans

The Collegiate Church of Saint- Aignan in Orleans is the rest of the abbey of the same name. It stands in the district Bourgogne on the north bank of the Loire. It was dedicated to Saint Aignan Bishop of Orléans ( † 453 ).

When the monastery was founded, is not known. By the 7th century, it had developed into an abbey, which was led by the Benedictine Rule and the Rule of Columbanus of Luxeuil. During this time, the abbey was in possession of the domain Attigny in the Ardennes; 642-651 King Clovis II acquired the domain by the abbot of the monastery of Saint- Aignan, which it received the much nearer Fleury, which was shortly afterwards renamed Saint- Benoît- sur -Loire, when the monastery was founded here with relics of St. Benedict of Nursia was fitted.

In the 9th century, the monks took on the status of canons. Partly with the help of the Bishop Theodulf of Orléans, a counselor of Charlemagne, the Community gained complete autonomy, her pen chapter after chapter of the cathedral of Orléans, the second most important town. The most important Laienäbte this time were Hugo Abbas († 886 ), Hugh the Great († 956) and his son Hugh Capet († 996 ).

Also during the 9th century, the abbey suffered under the attacks of the Normans, especially in the year 865 when the city fire of 999 also Saint-Aignan was destroyed. From the monastery church, only the crypt where the relics of St. Aignan be kept remained. In 1029 a new church was consecrated in the Romanesque style, after twelve years of construction. During the siege of Orleans by the English in 1359, Saint- Aignan were demolished by the city's population (as well as the churches of Saint -Pierre Ensentelée (now Saint- Pierre du Martroi ) and Saint- Euverte to prevent the British used it as a ski jump ). Rebuilt in 1420, was the suburban churches in 1428, again demolished when a new siege by the British, on the Bailli Raoul de Goncourt command. Another new building was built on 1439. Later, King Louis XI ordered. that Saint- Aignan is included in the extended city wall. The Louis XI. funded re- building of the church was consecrated in 1509.

The church, partially burned down in 1562, during the Wars of Religion, Saint- Aignan was ransacked in 1563 the relics Aignans were partially thrown on a pyre ( saved some bones were but of a chorister - - Jehan Minereau ). 1567 more parts were demolished. With the peace of 1570 work began to make the Church usable again: between longitudinal and cross- ship a wall is reached, because the nave was badly damaged, however, Saint- Aignan had lost by the half loss of his relics some of its importance. 1619 was of Louis XIII. the restoration of the altarpiece exist today paid.

In November, 1790, ie, during the French Revolution, the abbey chapter disappeared; 1792 to 1802 the church was eventually used only for the production of military tents, then as a center for revolutionary grouping, from 1798 as a " Temple de la Reconnaissance et de la Victoire ". From 1802, after the Concordat between Napoleon and the Pope, exhibitions were held here again. However, Saint- Aignan was now only a simple parish church.

Today there from the church, only the choir with four arches, the ambulatory, the transept and the crypt. The destroyed in the religious wars nave was demolished in 1804, as well as the previously undamaged church tower in the west.

Since 1840, the crypt is run as a Monument historique since 1910, the entire church.