L'abbaye de Bithaine, an ancient Cistercian monastery located in the commune of Adelans-et-le-Val-de-Bithaine in Haute-Saône, was damaged by a fire on September 21, 2026. The monastery was founded by Aymon, seigneur de Faucogney, who was a crusader and taken prisoner in Béthanie. He promised to establish a monastery in his fief if he were saved and, after being released, gave the lands to the monks of Morimond in 1133. The name "Bithaine" is derived from Béthanie.
The monastery grew and prospered, founding a daughter abbey at Chaligny in 1150. It was pillaged several times, including during a peasant revolt in 1525. During the July Monarchy, a cotton mill was installed in the buildings of the abbey, which remained until the end of the 19th century. Parts of the site, including the remains of the old claustral quarter and the facades, were listed as historic monuments in 1995.
Since 1969, following various changes in ownership, the abbey has been held by the Berthet family. They created a contemporary art salon within the site which has operated from June to October since 1996. The fire on September 21, 2026, caused significant damage to the framework of the building.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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