Saint-Pierre Abbey

The Saint-Pierre Abbey in Airvault was initially a collegiate church of regular canons of Saint Augustine, founded around 990 by Audéarde, wife of Viscount Herbert I of Thouars. As the canons were lax in following the rules of the Order of Saint Augustine, the Bishop of Poitiers decided to send a monk from the Augustinian abbey of Lesterps in Limousin to reform it. Pierre de Fonte Salubri (of Saine Fontaine) was appointed the first abbot of Airvault in 1096 and died on August 7, 1110. He undertook the construction of the abbey church. According to the Chronicle of Saint-Maixent, the church was consecrated in 1100 but subsequently underwent modifications and additions.

After the creation of the diocese of Maillezais in 1317, transferred to La Rochelle in 1648, the abbey became dependent on it.

During the Revolution a road was pierced through the abbey separating the convent buildings of the abbey. Several buildings are still visible as the room called the 'vat', the 'prison' (fortified gate), underground rooms, the fourteenth-century chapel and especially the abbey house which has hosted since 1975 the municipal museum.

Address

Rue de la Gendarmerie 3, Airvault, France

Details

Founded: c. 990 AD
Category: Religious sites in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)