In the heart of France's wine country, the abbey ruins of Château-Châtres offer a glimpse into the ancient lives of its monks, their Gothic chapel, and the dome crowned with snaggle-toothed stones. Founded around 1000 or in 1077, this abbey in Saint-Brice, Charente, France was home to Augustinian Canons Regular, living a life of communal poverty. The Gothic chapel, dating back to the 14th century, is one of the highlights of a visit here. The abbey was destroyed during the Hundred Years' War, and in 1562, a fire during the Wars of Religion further damaged it. It was suppressed during the French Revolution and sold as national property. In 1948, it was classified as a historical monument, and in 2017, renovation of the façade was undertaken. The nave of the abbey church is unique and covered with three domes on pendentives. The large dome on the crossing is adorned with a belt of teeth-like stones and has two oculi. The south arm of the transept has a Gothic chapel from the 14th century. Visits are organized at the abbey during the summer.
The abbey Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Châtres is located in the middle of vineyards at Saint-Brice in Charente, France. The abbey, probably founded around 1000 or in 1077, was home to Augustinian Canons Regular living a life of communal poverty. The abbey was destroyed during the Hundred Years' War and in 1562, during the Wars of Religion, a fire destroyed part of the conventual buildings and the north arm of the transept. The abbey was suppressed during the French Revolution and sold as national property. It was classified as a historical monument in 1948. The nave of the abbey church is unique, covered with three domes on pendentives. The large dome on the crossing is adorned with a belt of teeth-like stones and has two oculi. The south arm of the transept has a Gothic chapel from the 14th century. Visits are organized at the abbey during the summer.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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