Perseigne Abbey opens its doors

"The discovery of the Cistercian order at the origin of the Abbey"

*The director, originally from Sarthois, Cyrille Langevin, will present three unpublished documentaries on Cistercian history and the Cistercian universe, the monastic order at the origin of the creation of the Perseigne Abbey.
On Saturday, September 16 at 10:30 am will also be the opportunity to officially present, during a press conference, the program of the great event of 2023: The 100 YEARS of the camp!
“It’s not just the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will turn 100 in 2023!”
For those who do not know, the decor of the Perseigne Abbey has been home to the oldest ever active holiday colony in France since 1923.
The abbey... The Pitch of its history...
Founded in 1145 by Guillaume III Talvas, count of Alençon and baron of Saosnois. It is the first Cistercian abbey founded in Maine. It was rapidly flourishing. It is even said that the abbey was visited by King Saint Louis who, as a sign of thanks for the welcome he had received, offered the two lions that frame the steps of La Chapelle? (information not attested and not verifiable). It is a certain Adam of Perseigne who will make of the abbey, one of the outstanding medieval figures of the whole Cistercian order. He was sent (or elected?) as abbot to Perseigne in 1188. Adam is not the only known monk of his time; under his abbey Thomas of Perseigne, who died in 1190, is also famous for his commentary on the Canticle of Canticles, written between 1170 and 1189.
The Cistercian order promotes work (especially that of the fields) as a cardinal value. The work of the land will lead the abbey of Perseigne to own eighteen barns in 1198, the Cistercian rule concerning the barns, was that each was only one day away from the abbey at the most, so that the conversions («brothers in the fields»), may attend the Sunday service at the abbey.
The 1789 revolution put an end to the Abbey’s cultural and spiritual influence. Annihilated, the estate was sold as a “national good” in 1871.
Over the decades, the property passed into various hands and it was Father Rabinel, heir to the property, who offered Father Lebreton the opportunity to settle there in 1923, a summer camp for disadvantaged children...
A century later the colony, the oldest in France in operation, continues with the same spirit, intact, as its motto:
“Fructus Noster Maneat = May our fruit remain”
Since October 4, 1932, the ruins of the abbey are permanently listed as historical monuments.

Weekend programme

Cinema - Exhibitions - Guided tours - meetings - Debates
Saturday 17 September
9.00 am Opening of doors and exhibitions
9H15: Historical mini-exhibition of the Abbey and Projection Film 1 (Cîteaux, Cradle of the Cistercian Order)
9:30 am: guided tour 1 (duration 45') with recommended pre-registration
10H15: welcome coffee press conference
10:30 am: Press conference to present the 100th anniversary of the Perseigne camp: “2023… the other centenary” that will take place on Saturday, September 9, 2023 and the inauguration of this “first” Heritage Day in Perseigne in the presence of the official representatives (region, department, cities, diocese) and all the guests of the WE: speakers, directors, etc.
11H15: Snack around the official inauguration of Heritage Days.
11H30: Guided tour 2 (other departures 14H30 16H30 and 18H30 on Saturdays)
1PM: Lunch and Open Picnic Area
2 pm: Film 1. (Cîteaux Abbey - Berçeau of the Cistercian order) followed by a debate in the presence of the director and historians.
16H00: Film 2: The voice of angels followed by a meeting with the director
5.30pm: Film screening 3: Hautecombes Abbey and the Chemin Neuf community, followed by a meeting with the director and former members of the community (subject)
Sunday, September 18
9AM: opening of the site
9:30 am: Film screening 2: «La voix des anges» followed by a meeting with the director and an acoustic expert (Le Mans Sonore)
9H30: guided tour (maximum 45’ tour). (Tour departure 11H30 14H30 16H30 (prior registration required)
11H00: Film 1. (Cîteaux Abbey - Berçeau of the Cistercian Order) followed by a round table about the history of Persia
From 12:00 to 14:00: Field picnic allowed on site
2PM: Projection «En route pour Perseigne» by Flavien Demeure (90')
3.30pm: Round table/meeting around the colony of Perseigne in the history of the abbey «De l'Abbé Lebreton au XXIeme siècle»
4.30 pm: Film Screening 3. Abbaye d'Hautecombes and the Chemin Neuf community
18H00 closure of the site

Extracts from the history of the Abbey...

**from origin to today ***

In the heart of the forest a clearing and in this clearing, some monks took up residence. The abbey of Perseigne is a daughter abbey of the abbey of Citeaux, itself located in Burgundy and founder of the Cistercian order. Founded in 1098 and officially approved in 1119, this order proposes a stricter application of the Rule of Saint Benedict. The monks seek silence and isolation, two characteristics well present in the forest of Perseigne at the time of the foundation of the abbey.
William said Talvas heir by his mother from the lands of Ponthieu near Abbeville but on the other hand descended by his father from the family of Bellême owner of the lands on which the forest of Perseigne stretches.
However, if it is Guillaume who gives the land, we can think that the inspiration for this decision comes rather from his wife, Hameline. Indeed, Hameline is the daughter of Eudes Borel, Duke of Burgundy, who gave him the land allowing the foundation of the abbey of Citeaux.
Guillaume Talvas gives a large part of the abbey’s land, he is not the only donor! It is necessary to provide the monks with means of subsistence. Moreover, the abbey of Citeaux did not send monks if there was not everything necessary for their survival. In the 1145 charter, Guillaume confirms giving a part of the forest, a pond, vines, land to cultivate... The conditions are therefore ideal for the twelve monks sent to settle in these places. The buildings were built according to the usual plan of Cistercian abbeys founded at the same time. That is to say, still according to Gabriel Fleury:
These buildings remained almost the same until the eighteenth century when work greatly changed the appearance of this secular abbey. During the Revolution, the abbey was looted and largely destroyed. We can imagine its profile thanks to a watercolor painted by Gaignières in 1695 or the interior by going to admire the altarpiece of the abbey today preserved in the church of Monhoudou.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE ABBEY IN MODERN TIMES
After Adam of Perseigne, other abbots succeeded each other and brought with more or less application spiritual help to their community. In addition to this spiritual support, the abbots were responsible for managing the important income derived from the farms and other lands belonging to the abbey. This management was less and less regular until Abbé Catherin de Chahanay. This abbot had as plan to raise by force of taxes in the parish of Saosnes what went far beyond his prerogatives. On his death in 1551, the royal power decided to put the abbey of Perseigne under the regime of commende. The king therefore had the power to appoint a lay abbot or secular clergy. The latter received the revenues of the abbey and was responsible for redistributing the money according to needs. The community was managed by a prior.
The abbey of Perseigne continued its efforts throughout the eighteenth century even though the greatest intellectuals of the community were forced to leave it to perform other functions as prior in other abbeys or as a teacher at the college of Bernardins. They are only 8 when the events of the revolution reach the forest of Perseigne. They are driven out of buildings that are sold as national goods and reduced to a state of ruin. The land changed ownership regularly before being revived in the 1920s.
* Source: Marie Pitete, Head of Historical Archives, Diocese of Le Mans (radio broadcast RCF Le Mans)