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LAGRASSE
One of
the most beautiful villages in France, Lagrasse is a small
town nestled at the confluence of two valleys,on
the banks of the river Orbieu,
and linked to the Benedictine abbey to which it owed its
original prosperity by two graceful bridges spanning the
river Orbieu.
The
abbey of Lagrasse, founded in the 8th century, is owned
jointly by a closed religious order and the state and both
sides are open to the public. The name Lagrasse simply means
The Fat, maybe a reference to the fact that the Abbey
profited greatly from the Cathar crusades and controlled
much of the land in the Corbieres.
The Abbey of Sainte Marie d'Orbieu
In a document dating back to the 8th Century, Charlemagne confirmed the foundation of an already established Abbey at Lagrasse. This recognition was decisive as it set in motion a programme of rapid development, that was generated by a succession of large donations coming from rich noblemen, and even the Counts of Barcelona.
This prosperity made it one of the most important Abbeys in the south of France. Its geographic location between France and Spain provided the Abbots of Lagrasse a crucial role in the political and religious affairs of the south. At some time 25 priories, 67 churches and 91 other locations in the Languedoc-Roussillon region were dependent on Lagrasse.
Nebriius, Archbishop of Narbonne was the founding Abbot, and he adopted the Benedictine laws for the Abbey, but it wasn't until the 18th century that Armand Bazin de Beziers, Bishop of Carcassonne started the building of the Abbots Palace.
At the time of the Revolution there were only 14 monks left in the Abbey and they soon left. In 1796 the Abbey and the Palace were sold off as two separate parts.
In 1896 a religious order founded a home for the aged in the Palace, consisting of about two thirds of the buildings, and that continued until 1975. In 1979, it was acquired by a lay community called "The Theophanie, and they set in motion a programme of renovation.
The Abbey, consisting of the remaining third, became the property of the Association of "Medailles Militaire" who ran an orphanage in it until 1981. Since that date, it was bought by the village of
Lagrasse.
If you visit the buildings you will find many different architectural styles from the 8th to the 16th centuries. There are many highlights to see, including the two balconies dating from the 13th century that surround the garden in the Abbots Palace,
The wine cellar, a vaulted hall of 300 square meters and the smaller room just off it, was the bakery of the monastery. It was equipped with an impressive fireplace, and a water supply system.
St Bartholomey's (or Abbots chapel was built in 1296 by Abbot Auger de Gagenx. The walls of the chapel were formerly covered in frescos, which were badly damaged during the 19th century when the roof of the chapel was taken off. However there are still traces visible. The floor was covered in coloured glazed clay tiles and that still remains largely intact.
The pre Romanesque tower was probably erected during the 10th century, and is the oldest element of the buildings. The dormitory was a hall of 50 meters by 8 meters and could have housed one hundred monks at the height of the Abbeys influence.
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