Obazine Abbey: Founded by Saint Stephen in 1134 in Aubazines

Obazine Abbey, also known as Aubazine Abbey, was a Cistercian monastery in the present town of Aubazines in the département of Corrèze in the Limousin in France. The monastery was founded in about 1134 by Saint Stephen of Obazine, who began the eremitical life after his ordination with another priest, Pierre. They attracted a number of followers and, with the sanction of Eustorge, Bishop of Tulle, built a monastery on a site granted them by the Viscount Archambault.

In 1142, St. Stephen was clothed with the regular habit. He had Cistercian monks train his followers in their mode of life and affiliated his abbey to that of Cîteaux in 1147. As their number increased, several foundations were made. The Obazine Abbey had foundations in Limousin and Quercy, as farms all around Rocamadour, a famous sacred place of pilgrimage. These farms were situated in Alix, Calès, Bonnecoste, Couzou, Carlucet, near Séniergues, and at La Pannonie.

These Cistercian farms provided furnish wood and food to pilgrims, to the monks of Rocamadour, and to Obazine. Some survived the Hundred Years' War, becoming little castles such as La Pannonie and Bonnecoste, while others disappeared. The abbey was suppressed and its property confiscated by the government during the French Revolution in 1791. The government then converted the abbey into a bordello for the remainder of the decade.

The structure of the abbey church survived the Revolution and now, after restoration, serves as the parish church of Aubazines.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons