Villesalem

Located in full shift, on the territory of the commune of Journet (Vienna), this old Priory of the Order of Fontevrault, founded at the 12th century, is one of the jewels of the Romanesque art poitevin.

History

Establishment having for origin a gift of grounds made in 1089 by Audebert, lord of Trémoille, with two hermits. With their departure two decades later, those yield the site of the Mas Vitalis to Robert d' Arbrissel, founder of the Abbaye of Fontevrault. The bishop of Poitiers, Pierre II of Chauvigny, authorizes there the construction of a priory in 1109. The pope Calixte II confirms the fastening of the foundation to the order of Fontevrault in 1119. The church (dedicated to Notre Dame of Peace) is built between 1130 and 1140.

The War One hundred Year old devastation the site on several occasions. In 1369, the Connétable English John Chandos puts Villesalem at bag and damages the church. Devastations are such as the monks give up the priory at the end of the 15th century.

Raised at the 17th century (in spite of the fire undergone by the church in 1612), Villesalem becomes a priory of Moniales. The conventual buildings built at that time to place the nuns allow the direct access between the cells and the nave. They thus mask half of the Western frontage of the church. Contemporary work of rehabilitation allowed a release partial of the architectural wonders then occulted.

At the beginning of the French revolution, the fontevrists, who were still sixteen in 1790, are expelled, and the priory and its vast land dependences, seized like Bien National, sold with the biddings in 1791. Their first purchaser is a rich person lawyer, Jean-François Charles New-Dupin. The field is cut up later on. Closed down and dedicated with an agricultural use (cattle shed, barn and silo), the religious building undergoes one century and half of degradations.

Classified Historic building in 1914 then repurchased by the state in 1962, the site is the subject of a restoration which restores the beauty of its inheritance and the harmony of its lines. Its development is ensured by the Association of the Friends of Villesalem (founded in 1961) which proposes guided visits and organizes each summer a festival in concerts. Since 2007, Villesalem belongs to the places of animation retained for the festival of the Romance Nights.

Structure

Church with triple Vessel with a plan in Latin Cross and a bedside made up of a Apse and two Absidiole S. It is equipped with a Nef of five Travée S equipped with sides.
Repertory carved of Romance Style of a large smoothness of execution. Gates with Curve S and Capital X ornamented. The carved reasons combine foliages, figures human and phantasmagoric, and a splendid varied bestiary (birds, lions, dogs).

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