Moissac Abbey facts for kids
Moissac Abbey was a very old and important monastery in southwestern France. It was home to Benedictine and Cluniac monks. These were groups of monks who followed specific rules for their lives. Many of its medieval buildings are still standing today. The abbey church is famous for its amazing Romanesque sculptures. This old style of art can be seen around the church entrance.
Contents
History of Moissac Abbey
How Moissac Abbey Started
An old story says that Moissac Abbey was started by King Clovis. This happened in the year 506, the day after he won a big battle. The legend tells that King Clovis promised to build a monastery for 1,000 monks. This was to remember his 1,000 warriors who died fighting. He threw his spear to mark the spot for the "abbey of a thousand monks." But the spear landed in a swamp!
However, history books tell a different story. They say the abbey was founded by Saint Didier. He was the bishop of Cahors in the mid-600s.
Starting the monastery was hard because of many attacks. Moors from the south and west raided the area. Norsemen from the north also caused trouble. The abbey was attacked by Arabs twice around 732. It was also robbed by Norman pirates in the 800s. Later, in the 900s, Hungarians also looted the abbey.
Challenges in the 1000s
The 11th century was a tough time for Moissac Abbey. In 1030, the roof fell in because it was not kept up. Then, in 1042, a serious fire broke out. To fix problems, Durand de Bredons, the bishop of Toulouse, stepped in. He asked Odilon de Mercœur, the abbot of Cluny, to help. Odilon started big changes to make the monks follow their rules more strictly in 1047.
A new church building was added in 1063. Many other parts of the abbey were also repaired. Pope Urban II visited the abbey in 1097. He blessed the main altar and issued a special order. This order, dated May 7, 1097, gave 40 churches back to the abbey. He also ordered the building of the cloister, which was finished in 1100.
Golden Age in the 1100s
The 11th and 12th centuries were a first "golden age" for Moissac. The abbey joined with the famous Cluny Abbey. It also adopted the Cluniac Reforms, which were new rules for monks. This happened under the guidance of Durand de Bredons. He was both the abbot of Moissac and the bishop of Toulouse.
Support from the Pope and its location on a pilgrim road helped the abbey grow. The repairs to the buildings and the reforms made Moissac very powerful. In the 12th century, the abbot of Moissac was second in power only to the abbot of Cluny.
During this time, important abbots like Dom Hunaud de Gavarret led the abbey. Dom Ansquitil also helped build the famous doorway and tympanum. Later, in the 13th century, Raymond de Montpezat and Bertrand de Montaigut were abbots. They were also known as great builders. Aymeric de Peyrac wrote about these times in his Chronicle in the 1400s.
Beautiful handwritten books from the monastery's writing room were taken to Paris. This happened in the 1600s by Jean-Baptiste Colbert. Now, these special books are kept in the Bibliothèque Nationale.
New Growth in the 1400s
The 15th century brought another "golden age" to the abbey. This was under the abbots Pierre and Antoine de Caraman. They started many building projects. This included the Gothic part of the abbey church. In 1626, the abbey changed. The Benedictine monks, who had lived there for almost 1,000 years, had to leave.
They were replaced by Augustinian canons. These new leaders included famous cardinals like Mazarin.
End of Monastic Life
In 1793, the French Revolution ended monastic life at Moissac. The abbey church of St Pierre is still mostly complete. It is still used as a church today. However, the other buildings around it have been damaged. In the mid-1800s, a railway line was planned to go through the cloister.
Luckily, the cloister was saved. But the refectory (dining hall) was torn down for the railway. The cloister was then listed as a historic monument. Since 1998, the church and cloisters have been protected. They are part of a World Heritage Site called "Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France."
Abbey Architecture
The church's southwest portico is a very interesting part of the building. It has a crenellated structure, which looks like a castle wall. The sculptures there are a major masterpiece of Romanesque art. This shows how carving images became more popular and bigger. Sculptures were used not just inside the church but also on the outside for everyone to see.
The tympanum is a carved space above the doorway. It shows scenes from the Apocalypse in the Book of Revelation. Supporting the tympanum is a trumeau, a central pillar. It features a statue of the Prophet Isaiah. This is an amazing example of Romanesque sculpture. It is similar to the art found at Santo Domingo de Silos. The cloisters, which are covered walkways, also have beautiful Romanesque sculptures.
See also
In Spanish: Abadía de Moissac para niños
- French Romanesque architecture
- Commons:Great Romanesque tympanums in France
