Here's a slideshow of a walk through the abbey church at Noirlac, near Bourges, in central France. Built between 1150 and 1250 A.D., the abbey entered into decline during the 100 Years' War in the 1300s and early 1400s. At the time of the French Revolution in the late 1700s, the abbey was sold by the French government. It was used as a porcelain factory for a few decades, and then was sold back to the goverment in 1909.
Noirlac abbey was operated as a summer camp, an orphanage, and then as a hospital, and finally as a camp for refugees from the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. The French Wikipédia article about Noirlac says that paradoxically, because the abbey was used and occupied for so many decades and centuries, it wasn't left to fall into ruin. It was the object of major restoration work between 1950 and 1980.
That's interesting about it being used to house refugees from the Spanish Civil War. I've noticed in a couple of the small towns deep in southern Aude that there are a lot of Spanish surnames. I imagine that the history of all that period, which is not well known in the US, is quite informative.
ReplyDeleteExcellent slideshow of quality photos. Good memory.
ReplyDeleteWow, nice patina on those floors.
ReplyDeleteI thought so too.
DeleteThank goodness for summer camps, orphanages, hospitals and refugees! This is a beautiful abbey and the smooth, worn stone floors are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI wish that had happened to Cluny, the largest church in Christendom. It is no more. Just part of the transept is left!
DeleteThe floors were what I liked best too!
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