Abbaye de Saint-Riquier - Centre culturel départemental
Place de l'église 80135 SAINT-RIQUIER
On the slopes of the Somme Valley stands a majestic abbey of nearly 1400 years of history. It takes its name from an inhabitant of the vicus of Centule (the city with a hundred towers, today called Saint-Riquier) converted to the Christian religion, which evangelized the Ponthieu and was made holy at his death in 645\.
The monastery founded in the seventh century became a royal abbey in 632 by the protection granted to it by King Dagobert I. His importance was such that in 790 Charlemagne placed at his head one of the highest figures of his court, Angilbert, his adviser. Major abbey of the Carolingian world, it is destroyed in 881 by the invasion of the Normans. In total it will suffer of seventeen destructions. The eclectic architecture of the monument testifies to this turbulent past.
During the French Revolution, the old conventual buildings were sold as national property. Initially used as a quarry of stones, they will then receive many assignments, military (hospitals during the t
Tags
Monument historique, Édifice religieux, Musée, salle d'exposition, Lieu de spectacles, sports et loisirs & Espace naturel, parc, jardin
Accès
Possibility to park on the forecourt of the abbey or in other car parks of the village. Access to the PMR to the site as to the exhibitions.
Vincent Thellier
