L'Abbaye de Fleury à Saint Benoît sur Loire
This is a very beautiful site by the Loire.
This abbey is remarkable for its history but also for the beauty of the Romanesque building and the finesse of the sculpted capitals of the tower-porch.
Situated 30 minutes from the chambres d'Hôtes L'Échappée Belle, its visit is one of the must-sees in Loiret.
Many famous people have passed through here, including Joan of Arc. A King of France is buried there and of course the relics of Saint Benoit are found there.
And don't miss the shop run by the Benedictine monks. You will find many gourmet specialities, produced by different monasteries all over Europe.
Many good reasons to visit!
Fleury Abbey was a religious centre from pre-Christian times.
The crypt of the abbey was the site of the remains of Saint Benedict, who was revered by all the monks of the Occident. The founder of the Benedictine order was buried in Italy at Monte Cassino,
but following the great invasion the monastery was sacked. The abbot of Fleury decided to recover the ashes and since the 8th century they have been in St Benoit sur Loire.
Philip I, King of France is also buried here above the crypt. He took refuge in Fleury Abbey to seek the protection of St Benedict. He had repudiated his wife and was therefore excommunicated by
the church. Unable to be buried on Christian soil, he implored the Saint and his "representatives" granted him a pardon.
Its library made it a major center of Western culture around the year 1000. The Abbey had a flourishing period and had up to 170 monks on the site in the early 13th century.
Then fires, wars... ravaged the building.
Joan of Arc and Charles VII passed through in 1429 on their way from Sully to Châteauneuf sur Loire. Fires and troubles continued to follow one another.
Another famous man who passed through the Abbey was Cardinal de Richelieu, who was Abbot from 1621 to 1642.
This was followed by a more flourishing period during which renovations and constructions restored the Abbey to its former splendour. Until the Revolution of 1789...and the purchase of the
buildings by a Parisian architect.
It was not until 1865 that two Benedictine monks returned to the monastery.
Do you know...?
- The Benedictine monks don't just sell delicacies, they "make" them. You will find a variety of sweets in the shop
- Another famous man spent a lot of time at the Abbey. Max Jacob, poet, came and lived in Saint Benoît before being arrested by the Germans and deported to Drancy where he died. A tour focusing
on Max Jacob is provided by the Tourist Office.
- Mass and celebrations at the Abbey are in Gregorian chant. If you go there during a celebration, you can appreciate the acoustics.
If you are interested, you can take advantage of the guided tours. And to learn more about the building, don't miss the Belvedere Interpretation Centre, which opened at the end of 2019 and is located near the Abbey.
Chambres d'Hôtes L’Échappée Belle
Les Riaux
45500 Saint Brisson sur Loire- Loiret - FRANCE
e-mail: contact@lecb.fr
Tél.: 02 38 87 75 87
