Abbatiale Saint-Robert
Abbatiale Saint Robert, 43160 La Chaise-Dieu
On the high plateaus of Livradois-Forez, at the heart of the Haute-Loire - «the South of France of Auvergne», the village of The Chair-God, and more particularly the abbey church Saint Robert, establishes(constitutes) the nerve centre of Festival. The Abbey church receives(welcomes) most concerts. It is this place which indeed characterises this event(demonstration), on one hand due to its remarkable acoustics, but also by the quality of the furniture and of the ornaments which they find there, and who manifest the wealth of religious art across different times(periods). It will be possible to admire so there lying him(it) of marble of the pope Clement VI, the famous Dance of death, the remarkable set(group) of tapestries, the sideboard(buffet) of organ (at the beginning of the XVIIIth century), 144 wooden stalls, etc.
The origin of the building goes back up(raises) to the XIth century, when the canon Robert de Turlande melts in this place the first Casa Dei monastery, God's House. Later, in the XIVth century, an old(former) monk of The Chair-God become Pope in Avignon, Clement VI, decides to finance the general reconstruction of the building, where he will be buried, in accordance with his will.
After Revolution, the monks are dispersed and leave the Abbey, the church becomes parish what saves it from destruction. In 1984, the Saint Jean community settles down in The Chair-God and takes up with the thousand-year-old monastic tradition of Casa-Dei.
A stony rood screen separates the Abbey church in two parts(parties), so on the occasion of the concerts of Festival, several types of places(squares) are proposed to the public. The places(squares) of chorus(choir) and stalls benefit from a direct view(sight) and from a very good sound quality(listening skill). In central nave, the stage(scene) is partly visible only across the storm door in the centre of the rood screen. The places(squares) of side naves have not direct vision of the stage(scene). The central and side naves benefit from a system of broadcast of images on screens; sound qualities(listening skills) are uneven and variable according to busy place(square) and musical programme.
A detailed presentation(display) of history(story) and of heritage of the Abbey church of The Chair-God is available on the web site of the association of the friends de l' Abbatiale: www.abbaye-chaise-dieu.com
Access
During Festival, the visits of the abbey church are very limited, because of constraints of installation and of repetition(rehearsal) except concerts. For safety reasons, they will not be allowed during the days of assembly(editing) and taking down of the stage(scene). Enquire to the tourist information office of The Chair-God during your coming (04 71 00 01 16). Festival warmly thanks you for your understanding.
Dimitri Fulconis
