Trinity Abbey, Vendôme

The Abbey of La Trinité in Vendôme was founded in 1034 by Count Geoffroy II Martel of Vendôme and his wife Agnes of Burgundy.

History

According to legend, the Count and his wife one morning saw three star ball fall into a fountain below the castle. Full of amazement Geoffroy arranged after consultation with the bishop of Chartres, the construction of a Benedictine abbey dedicated to the Trinity at this point, which was occupied by monks from the monastery Marmoutier at Tours. The establishment in 1034 was followed by the consecration of the abbey church on 31 May 1040, a month before was Geoffrey, Count of Anjou.

The abbey grew and prospered, was released from all feudal obligations, and soon stood the direct supervision of the Pope, which had been confirmed in the year 1056 by King Henry I.. A few years later, in 1063, the Abbot was granted the status of a cardinal, which was only granted even in church history the Abbot of Cluny. Almost inevitably became the monastery soon become powerful in conflict with the Count of Vendôme, where they often had the upper hand: Count Geoffrey II of Vendôme was excommunicated in a dispute with La Trinité what he could pick only through participation in the First Crusade from which he never returned.

As of 1539, the monastery was dominated by commendatory, from 1621 belonged to La Trinité Reform Congregation of Maurists - one of the most important Maurists, Luc d' Achery, leitstete here in 1632 his religious vows. During the Revolution, the church was made ​​a parish church and sold in 1791. As of 1802, the monastery housed the regional cavalry.

In Émile Boeswillwald (1815-1896) going restoration work on the Abbey back, as well as their classification as a monument historique already in 1840. Nevertheless, the monastery buildings were destroyed in 1907 largely from their military users, the residues are in a small museum on the history the Vendômois kept. The manuscripts of the monastery were housed at the City Library. The church and the remains of the abbey are now owned by the city.

Architecture

The abbey church in its present form contains elements of the simple first church in the transept and the piers of the crossing. At the end of the 13th century, in the heyday of the abbey, the apse was rebuilt High Gothic, and the mid-14th century, the two eastern bays of the nave were built. After a long interruption caused by the Hundred Years War, the work came back on track, and in 1492 the third and fourth yoke were completed. The other formed at the beginning of the 16th century along with the magnificent entrance front in the Flamboyant style.

Due to the long construction period are today " gathered " in the nave several different architectural style, as evidenced in the abutment and the change of profile types and ornaments in the exchange.

With regard to equipment, the four colorful framed Romanesque Vierungssäulen be observed. Even the stained glass from the 16th century are among the features of the church building. The choir stalls, also from the 16th century is decorated with grotesque animal figures and scenes from arising in the course of the year work.

Outside contrasts the Romanesque bell tower from the 12th century to the flame of the ornamental tracery on the west facade. From the cloister of the 14th century, the south wing was preserved. Part of the former convent building is now used as a museum; issued are wall paintings from the regional Loirtal and religious art from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Choir

Section through the bell tower by Eugène Viollet -le- Duc

Relic

The most important relic that was kept in the abbey, were the " holy tears " of Jesus, which were kept in a small crystal vial as water drops. They were the ones who made ​​La Trinité from 11th to the 18th century to a significant pilgrimage. Count Geoffrey Martel had allegedly been given after a victory over the Muslims by the Emperor of Constantinople Opel. However, the relic was lost during the revolution on their transport of Vendôme to Rome.

Abbots

• Geoffroi de Vendôme (around 1070-1132 )
• Charles Leduc (1766-1800), illegitimate son of Louis de Bourbon- Condé, comte de Clermont and the dancer Elisabeth Leduc, marquise de Tourvoie