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Ligugé Abbey, or the Abbey of St. Martin of Ligugé, is a Benedictine monastery in Ligugé, Vienne, France. Founded in 361 by Martin of Tours with land from Bishop Hilary of Poitiers, it is one of France’s oldest monastic sites. Initially thriving, the abbey later declined after invasions and conflicts, becoming a dependent priory by the 11th century. It was revitalized in 1003 but suffered during the Hundred Years’ War and was later held in commendam.
In the 16th century, the Jesuits took over, renovating the priory and running a college until the suppression of their order in 1762. The site was sold during the French Revolution, with the church eventually serving as a parish church.
Monastic life was restored in 1853 with monks from Solesmes, making Ligugé the first Solesmes daughter house. Expelled in 1880 by anti-clerical laws, the monks took refuge in Spain, later returning and founding new abbeys. Visitors like Huysmans and Claudel spent time there. After another expulsion in 1902, the community returned and rebuilt the abbey church, consecrated in 1929.
During World War II, the abbey sheltered figures like Robert Schuman and Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow. Monk Aimé Lambert joined the Resistance and was executed in 1943. After the war, an enamelling workshop was established at the abbey.
References:Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.
The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.
Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.