Foigny Abbey
Encyclopedia
Foigny Abbey was a Cistercian abbey located between Origny
and Étréaupont
, in a valley in the Thiérache
, in the north-eastern region of the Aisne
department. It was founded on 11 July 1121 by Bernard of Clairvaux
and Barthélemy of Jur, bishop of Laon. The church floor plan are based on those of the church of Clairvaux Abbey
; which was confirmed by excavations in 1959.
The abbey prospered and had no less than 100 monks and 200 lay brother
s farming 12,000 hectares owned by the abbey, reaching as far as the gates of Laon
. The abbey significantly contributed to the economic groth in the Thiérache
region. The deforestation
carried out together with other abbeys enabled the conversion of forestland to agriculture and the establishment of new settlements around the farms owned by the abbeys. Later, a large number of mills
were established thanks to the generous donations from the local nobility and the clergy.
The abbey was destroyed by fire in 1542. Major works on the site began in 1722 and in 1736 the convent was rebuilt, but the works had to stop due to lack of funds. On the French Revolution, the abbey was pillaged - there were only 11 monks by this times. In 1794 the abbey buildings were used as a military hospital. At the end of the 19th century, a chapel was built in the choir of the former abbey church. The site also includes a mill whose oldest part dates to the 12th century, which was still in operation until 2000 and which since 1982 used the river Thon to produce hydroelectric power.
Origny
Origny is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
and Étréaupont
Étréaupont
Étréaupont is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
, in a valley in the Thiérache
Thiérache
The Thiérache or Grande Thiérache is a region of France and Belgium united by similar geography and architecture, including the presence of hedgerows, grassland, hilly terrain, scattered settlements, and traditionally-built stone or brick houses with stone dividing walls and slate roofs.Located in...
, in the north-eastern region of the Aisne
Aisne
Aisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
department. It was founded on 11 July 1121 by Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian order.After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Three years later, he was sent to found a new abbey at an isolated clearing in a glen known as the Val...
and Barthélemy of Jur, bishop of Laon. The church floor plan are based on those of the church of Clairvaux Abbey
Clairvaux Abbey
Clairvaux Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in Ville-sous-la-Ferté, 15 km from Bar-sur-Aube, in the Aube département in northeastern France. The original building, founded in 1115 by St. Bernard, is now in ruins; a high-security prison, the Clairvaux Prison, now occupies the grounds...
; which was confirmed by excavations in 1959.
The abbey prospered and had no less than 100 monks and 200 lay brother
Lay brother
In the most common usage, lay brothers are those members of Catholic religious orders, particularly of monastic orders, occupied primarily with manual labour and with the secular affairs of a monastery or friary, in contrast to the choir monks of the same monastery who are devoted mainly to the...
s farming 12,000 hectares owned by the abbey, reaching as far as the gates of Laon
Laon
Laon is the capital city of the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-History:The hilly district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance...
. The abbey significantly contributed to the economic groth in the Thiérache
Thiérache
The Thiérache or Grande Thiérache is a region of France and Belgium united by similar geography and architecture, including the presence of hedgerows, grassland, hilly terrain, scattered settlements, and traditionally-built stone or brick houses with stone dividing walls and slate roofs.Located in...
region. The deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
carried out together with other abbeys enabled the conversion of forestland to agriculture and the establishment of new settlements around the farms owned by the abbeys. Later, a large number of mills
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
were established thanks to the generous donations from the local nobility and the clergy.
The abbey was destroyed by fire in 1542. Major works on the site began in 1722 and in 1736 the convent was rebuilt, but the works had to stop due to lack of funds. On the French Revolution, the abbey was pillaged - there were only 11 monks by this times. In 1794 the abbey buildings were used as a military hospital. At the end of the 19th century, a chapel was built in the choir of the former abbey church. The site also includes a mill whose oldest part dates to the 12th century, which was still in operation until 2000 and which since 1982 used the river Thon to produce hydroelectric power.