Abbaye de maillezais
Bourg, 85420 Maillezais
In 976, the Duke of Aquitaine Guillaume Fier-à-Bras founded a monastery on the island of Maillezais. At the beginning of the 11th century, the religious obtained the whole of the island under the condition of establishing a new monastery. The first foundation became priory (St Peter the Old). The new abbey was placed under the dependence of the Holy See. From then on, the wealth of the abbey did not cease to grow. In 1317, Pope John XXII erected the abbey of Maillezais in bishopric. The work resumed! At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Geoffroy d'Estissac, enlightened bishop, launched a new building campaign. Under his episcopate, Rabelais came to live there. At the height of his glory, Maillezais would succumb to the Wars of Religion. The bishopric was transferred to La Rochelle in 1666\. In 1791, sold as a Bien National, Maillezais became a stone quarry. From the powerful forebody, there remains a short nave with two bays covered in broken cradle and two square towers with the
Tags
Édifice religieux & Monument historique
