Moyenmoutier
Encyclopedia
Moyenmoutier is a commune
in the Vosges
department in Lorraine
in northeastern France
.
Inhabitants are called Médianimonastériens.
. Further away are Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
, 17 kilometres (11 mi) to the south and Nancy some 76 kilometres (47 mi) to the north-west.
Moyenmoutier is arranged into various quarters as follows:
The commune also includes several more isolated hamlets, including les Azelis, le Cadran Bleu, les Quatre Chemins, la Bergerie, la Pépinière, les Baraques and les Fossés.
in 671 was located between four others, at Senones
to the east, Étival
to the west, Saint-Dié
to the south and Bonmoutier (at Val-et-Châtillon
) to the north. Taken together these five monasteries subsequently, in a more map conscious age, have become known as the Sacred Cross of Lorraine (la Croix Sacrée de Lorraine).
In 915 the abbey was pillaged and torched by Hungarians and Barbarian hordes: it was rebuilt around 960. In the 12th century Aubert of Paroye built a hilltop castle on the Rock of St Peter, but this was destroyed in the 13th century under orders from the Duke of Lorraine.
The monastery dominated local life, sharing the ups and downs of the ensuing centuries with the little town that surrounded it. By the end of the 16th century, with the religious world across western Europe undergoing the confrontation between the Protestant
winds from Germany and the Counter Reformation forces confronting it, there was a feeling that monasticism in Moyenmoutier had fallen into a sorry state. The commendatory abbot
of Moyenmoutier, Eric of Lorraine who was also the Bishop of Verdun and commendatory abbot of the Monastery of St Vanne in Verdun, undertook to restore a more orderly existence to the monks under his authority. He entrusted the task to Dom Didier de La Cour
. In 1604 the resulting new constitution of the Congrégation of St. Vanne and St. Hydulphe
received papal
approval. The reforms became an important element in the Counter Reformation, being copied by other Catholic religious houses and congregations including in 1621, most famously, the Congregation of St. Maur.
The 18th century was a golden age for the Abbey at Moyenmoutier which for many years numbered among its scholars of philosophy and theology Dom Augustin Calmet, who in 1728 went on to become abbot at Senones
. The French Revolution
called time on the monastic existence, however, and in 19th century Moyenmoutier the chanting of monks was replaced by noise of industrial machines.
The commune enjoyed considerable prosperity during the 19th century and well into the early decades of the 20th century thanks to the textile industry
. The twentieth crisis in the European textile sector would be reflected by a population decline as people moved away in search if employment.
One of the last mainstream steam railway services in France ran along the Rabodeau valley, with a stop at Moyenmoutier, until the 1970s when it was abandoned by the public railway company. The Rabodeau steam railway continued to be operated by enthusiasts as a heritage railway
until 1982.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Vosges
Vosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
department in Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
in northeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Inhabitants are called Médianimonastériens.
Geography
The little town of Moyenmoutier is positioned along the lower part of the Rabodeau valley, at an average altitude of 320 meters. To the north-east, just over 5 kilometres (3 mi) away up the valley, is SenonesSenones
The Senones were an ancient Gaulish tribe.In about 400 BC they crossed the Alps and, having driven out the Umbrians settled on the east coast of Italy from Forlì to Ancona, in the so-called ager Gallicus, and founded the town of Sena Gallica , which became their capital. In 391 BC they invaded...
. Further away are Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, commonly referred to as Saint-Dié, is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
, 17 kilometres (11 mi) to the south and Nancy some 76 kilometres (47 mi) to the north-west.
Moyenmoutier is arranged into various quarters as follows:
- Centre
- Le Rabodeau
- Le Pair
- la Chapelle
- Saint-Prayel
- la Prelle
- les Voitines
- le Grand Himbeaumont
- le Petit Himbeaumont
- Saint-Blaise
The commune also includes several more isolated hamlets, including les Azelis, le Cadran Bleu, les Quatre Chemins, la Bergerie, la Pépinière, les Baraques and les Fossés.
History
The origin of the name Moyenmoutier is the obvious one. The monastery (moutier) founded by Saint HydulpheHidulf
Hidulf was a Benedictine abbot, founder of Moyenmoutier Abbey, and reputed bishop of Trier. He may have been born in Regensburg.A contemporary view is that he was not a diocesan bishop, nor abbot of Saint-Dié Abbey in France....
in 671 was located between four others, at Senones
Senones
The Senones were an ancient Gaulish tribe.In about 400 BC they crossed the Alps and, having driven out the Umbrians settled on the east coast of Italy from Forlì to Ancona, in the so-called ager Gallicus, and founded the town of Sena Gallica , which became their capital. In 391 BC they invaded...
to the east, Étival
Étival-Clairefontaine
Étival-Clairefontaine is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.The Clairefontaine Paper Mill is located in this city.-External links:*...
to the west, Saint-Dié
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, commonly referred to as Saint-Dié, is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
to the south and Bonmoutier (at Val-et-Châtillon
Val-et-Châtillon
Val-et-Châtillon is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
) to the north. Taken together these five monasteries subsequently, in a more map conscious age, have become known as the Sacred Cross of Lorraine (la Croix Sacrée de Lorraine).
In 915 the abbey was pillaged and torched by Hungarians and Barbarian hordes: it was rebuilt around 960. In the 12th century Aubert of Paroye built a hilltop castle on the Rock of St Peter, but this was destroyed in the 13th century under orders from the Duke of Lorraine.
The monastery dominated local life, sharing the ups and downs of the ensuing centuries with the little town that surrounded it. By the end of the 16th century, with the religious world across western Europe undergoing the confrontation between the Protestant
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
winds from Germany and the Counter Reformation forces confronting it, there was a feeling that monasticism in Moyenmoutier had fallen into a sorry state. The commendatory abbot
Commendatory abbot
A commendatory abbot is an ecclesiastic, or sometimes a layman, who holds an abbey in commendam, drawing its revenues but not exercising any authority over its inner monastic discipline...
of Moyenmoutier, Eric of Lorraine who was also the Bishop of Verdun and commendatory abbot of the Monastery of St Vanne in Verdun, undertook to restore a more orderly existence to the monks under his authority. He entrusted the task to Dom Didier de La Cour
Didier de La Cour
Dom Didier de La Cour de La Vallée was a Benedictine monk, responsible for the foundation of the reforming Congregation of St. Vanne in 1604.-Life:...
. In 1604 the resulting new constitution of the Congrégation of St. Vanne and St. Hydulphe
Congregation of St. Vanne
The Congregation of St. Vanne or Congregation of St. Vanne and St. Hydulphe , sometimes also known as the Vannists was a Benedictine reform movement centred on Lorraine. It was formally established in 1604 on the initiative of Dom Didier de La Cour, prior of the Abbey of St...
received papal
Pope Clement VII
Clement VII , born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, was a cardinal from 1513 to 1523 and was Pope from 1523 to 1534.-Early life:...
approval. The reforms became an important element in the Counter Reformation, being copied by other Catholic religious houses and congregations including in 1621, most famously, the Congregation of St. Maur.
The 18th century was a golden age for the Abbey at Moyenmoutier which for many years numbered among its scholars of philosophy and theology Dom Augustin Calmet, who in 1728 went on to become abbot at Senones
Senones Abbey
Senones Abbey was a Benedictine abbey located in the valley of the Rabodeau, in the present village of Senones in Lorraine, France.-History:...
. The French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
called time on the monastic existence, however, and in 19th century Moyenmoutier the chanting of monks was replaced by noise of industrial machines.
The commune enjoyed considerable prosperity during the 19th century and well into the early decades of the 20th century thanks to the textile industry
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
. The twentieth crisis in the European textile sector would be reflected by a population decline as people moved away in search if employment.
One of the last mainstream steam railway services in France ran along the Rabodeau valley, with a stop at Moyenmoutier, until the 1970s when it was abandoned by the public railway company. The Rabodeau steam railway continued to be operated by enthusiasts as a heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
until 1982.