Art & Architecture
article | Reading time6 min
Art & Architecture
article | Reading time6 min
Your first reaction will probably be: "A monastery within an abbey? It's hard to understand...". It doesn't make sense. But it's explainable. A misnomer for what should more accurately be called "the building" of Saint-Maur. We'll clear it up for you!
We are in the first half of the 17th century. The Benedictine rule governing the life of the abbey was being increasingly flouted. Following a decision by King Louis XIII, a Benedictine community from Saint-Maur moved to Montmajour. Reform was needed! And the Maurists were the great specialists. For them, spiritual and intellectual renewal went hand in hand with architectural renewal. They decided to abandon the medieval part of the site and had a new building constructed, which became the most recent construction on the site. Comprising all the architectural elements of a fully-fledged monastery, it was naturally and conveniently named the "Saint-Maur monastery".
© Marina Pascal-Suisse / CMN
During the French Revolution, the monastery was sold as national property to Élizabeth Roux-Chatelard. Deemed too ostentatious for the monks, thebuilding was dismantled. Stripped of its roof and framework, it was then divided into several parcels and sold to around twenty owners. Finally, it was used as a stone quarry for many years.
The monastery was listed as a Historic Monument in 1921, while the medieval part had already been listed in 1840. This classification enabled work to be undertaken to strengthen and clear a building that had long been abandoned. However, the building is still fragile. In 2019, a phase of restoration and consolidation work will make the second level accessible to visitors. The second level will open to the public in July 2020.
© CMN
The building is built on five levels in a classical style, 25 metres high and 100 metres long! It's hard to get a real feel for this 8,000 m2 "monastic palace". What you can see on site represents only about one-sixth of the original construction.
François Brosse / CMN
The cellar, which is only accessible from the north and east, was refurbished in 2000 by Rudy Riciotti, as was the storeroom. The latter was an annexe to the stables and cellar. There were never any common areas for the monks on this first floor.
The service floor is accessible from the terrace via a monumental staircase restored in the early 2000s. This level housed a number of areas used by the stewards. These included the ladies' sitting room and the bakery. Located on the north side of the large pavilion, access to the bakery is via a corridor that opens onto two rooms, the first serving as a granary and the second containing the bread oven, which is still in place.
© Geoffroy Mathieu / CMN
This was the main living area for the monks.
It included several lounges, a kitchen and a refectory, as well as a grand western staircase and a gatehouse. This area opens onto the terrace from the longitudinal cloister. This walkway runs along the south side of the terrace and replaces the former medieval cloister. It serves as a rest area.
© Ambroise Tezenas / CMN
The last two levels were mainly dedicated to the monks' cells. These were modestly furnished with a bed, a bedside table and an oratory for prayer. The upper floors also housed several drawing rooms, guest rooms and work rooms such as the archives and library.
More specifically, level 4 housed the cells of the "confirmed" monks, also known as the "professed". The first floor contained 44 bedrooms, 28 on the south side and 16 on the north side. The rooms were only partly completed, as some of them were used as classrooms or archive rooms.
Level 5 housed the novice monks' cells and other utility rooms.
© We are content / CMN