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Abbey of Bonlieu

Monument in Peyrat-la-Nonière

Abbey of Bonlieu - Monument in Peyrat-la-Nonière
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Bonlieu Abbey is located in the town of Peyrat-la-Nonière, in the Creuse department, 23 km northeast of Aubusson.

It was founded around 1120 by Géraud de Salles, until then a monk in Dalon, in Périgord, on land located east of the current town of Peyrat-la-Nonière donated by Amelius de Chambon, in the presence of the bishop of Limoges.

A simple hermitage then a veritable abbey belonging to the order of Cîteaux from 1163, Bonlieu became a prosperous monastery thanks to the generosity of the lords of the region. At its peak, the abbey owned 17 agricultural estates.

Admittedly looted during the Hundred Years War then affected during the Wars of Religion, the abbey which neighbors the course of the Tardes was however already in decline when the Revolution occurred. Only three monks remained there.

The site was soon sold to dyers established in Aubusson…

In the meantime, the monastery underwent several work campaigns.

The first in the 12th and 13th centuries with the construction of a first and then a second church, the second in the 15th century where a keep typical of the Marche region and the dwelling of the abbot were erected, and the third in the 17th century with the rebuilding of the conventual building and the development of hydraulic works.

Nowadays, the general plan is still visible, with buildings forming a quadrilateral. One of the sides is reserved for the church (of which the first two bays of the nave and the ruins of the apse remain), opposite is a rectangular tower, completed in 1421 for defensive purposes (dungeon). A rectangular main building rises to the north of the tower, with a circular turret attached to its west facade. Finally, two elongated main buildings from the 18th century, arranged perpendicularly, occupy the "east" and "north" sides of the quadrilateral.

To the south of the monastery, the monks built a bridge over the river at the end of the 15th century, comprising two arches and triangular spouts.

Property that is still private is listed in the Inventory. The site of the old abbey is not open to the public but the exteriors and the silhouette of this well-preserved complex can mark out a walk in a verdant setting.

Information on +33 5 55 66 32 12.

AddressBonlieu, Peyrat-la-Nonière
Telephone+33 5 55 62 39 09

Other monuments nearby

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Church Saint-MartinGouzon (12.8 km)
Castle of VillemonteixSaint-Pardoux-les-Cards (13.1 km)
Abbey of Moutier-d'AhunMoutier-d'Ahun (19.7 km)
Church Saint-BlaiseChamberaud (21 km)
Castle of ChantemilleAhun (21 km)
Castle of VillefortSainte-Feyre-la-Montagne (21 km)
Church Saint-Martin de ToursChambonchard (21 km)

Weather

Friday 29 march
Min. 8°C - Max. 11°C
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Saturday 30 march
Min. 5°C - Max. 11°C
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Sunday 31 march
Min. 6°C - Max. 13°C
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