Saint-Michel de Grandmont Priory
Encyclopedia
Saint-Michel de Grandmont Priory ' onMouseout='HidePop("7492")' href="/topics/Grandmontines">Grandmontine
in the commune of Saint-Privat
, in Hérault
, France
. The priory
is located in a wild and beautiful area in heart of a oak forest, about 10 km from Lodève
.
The Priory is now maintained by “Les Amis du Prieure Saint Michel de Grandmont” a non profit making association.
is one of the best preserved of the 160 Grandmontine
monasteries, a religious order, founded by Étienne of Thiers (1046–1124, son of Viscount of Thiers
from the Auvergne
).
When he was 12, Etienne was taken by his father to Italy
, where he studied under Milo, (who would later to become Archbishop of Benevente). Here the young Etienne met with the Calabria
n monks who practised Byzantine
rites, and thus discovered his vocation.
Upon his return to France
in 1076, Etienne searched for somewhere to practise the Gospel
in prayer, and solitude. He chose an isolated location in the forest of Muret
(near to Limoges
). A hut dwelling community of hermits began to gather around him, and they soon built a church, and living quarters as their numbers grew.
His death prompted the movement of his flock to the Grandmont plateau, near Limoges
, where they built the Abbey of Grandmont. This became the hub to more than 160 smaller monasteries, inhabited by more than 1500 hermits, of which, the Priory of St Michel de Grandmont at Lodève
was one.
By 1772 the Grandmontaine Order
had dwindled in popularity, and was eventually dissolved, and the Priory was absorbed into the Diocese of Lodève. Two monks remained in the Priory until their deaths in 1785.
It was known to be one of the strictest, and austere orders of the Middle Ages. There was no hierarchy, with no archives, and no heating. The monks walked with bare feet, in perpetual silence. They ate no meat, and fasted regularly. As they worked, they engaged in silent prayer. Theirs was the first order to be permitted to beg for food.
After the French revolution
, the priory passed into the hands of a local merchant family, who developed it as a home, and agricultural estate.
From 1849 to 1936 it was owned by the Vitalis family, who were cloth manufacturers. Etienne Vitalis restored the buildings, making them fit for habitation, and wine production.
In 1957 it was bought by the Bec family, who owned a local engineering firm. In 1980 the Priory was classed as an historic monument, and opened its doors to the public.
was restored by its private owners over the last century. The group of buildings includes a church, a Romanesque
cloister surmounted by a charming pinnacle, and a chapter house and cellar.
Grandmontines
Grandmontines were the monks of the Order of Grandmont, a religious order founded by Saint Stephen of Thiers, towards the end of the 11th century. The order was named after its motherhouse, Grandmont Abbey in the homonymous village, now part of the commune of Saint-Sylvestre, in the department of...
in the commune of Saint-Privat
Saint-Privat, Hérault
Saint-Privat is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.The Saint-Michel at Grandmont Priory is located on the territory of the commune.-References:*...
, in Hérault
Hérault
Hérault is a department in the south of France named after the Hérault river.-History:Hérault is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
, 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...
. The priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
is located in a wild and beautiful area in heart of a oak forest, about 10 km from Lodève
Lodève
Lodève is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
.
The Priory is now maintained by “Les Amis du Prieure Saint Michel de Grandmont” a non profit making association.
History
This 12 century prioryPriory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
is one of the best preserved of the 160 Grandmontine
Grandmontines
Grandmontines were the monks of the Order of Grandmont, a religious order founded by Saint Stephen of Thiers, towards the end of the 11th century. The order was named after its motherhouse, Grandmont Abbey in the homonymous village, now part of the commune of Saint-Sylvestre, in the department of...
monasteries, a religious order, founded by Étienne of Thiers (1046–1124, son of Viscount of Thiers
Thiers
Thiers is a French surname. Notable persons with the surname include:*Adolphe Thiers , French statesman and historian*Louisa Thiers , American supercentenarian*Harry D...
from the Auvergne
Auvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
).
When he was 12, Etienne was taken by his father to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where he studied under Milo, (who would later to become Archbishop of Benevente). Here the young Etienne met with the Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
n monks who practised Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
rites, and thus discovered his vocation.
Upon his return to 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...
in 1076, Etienne searched for somewhere to practise the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
in prayer, and solitude. He chose an isolated location in the forest of Muret
Muret
Muret is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.It is an outer suburb of the city of Toulouse, even though it does not belong to Greater Toulouse, which it has declined to join...
(near to Limoges
Limoges
Limoges |Limousin]] dialect of Occitan) is a city and commune, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department and the administrative capital of the Limousin région in west-central France....
). A hut dwelling community of hermits began to gather around him, and they soon built a church, and living quarters as their numbers grew.
His death prompted the movement of his flock to the Grandmont plateau, near Limoges
Limoges
Limoges |Limousin]] dialect of Occitan) is a city and commune, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department and the administrative capital of the Limousin région in west-central France....
, where they built the Abbey of Grandmont. This became the hub to more than 160 smaller monasteries, inhabited by more than 1500 hermits, of which, the Priory of St Michel de Grandmont at Lodève
Lodève
Lodève is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
was one.
By 1772 the Grandmontaine Order
Grandmontines
Grandmontines were the monks of the Order of Grandmont, a religious order founded by Saint Stephen of Thiers, towards the end of the 11th century. The order was named after its motherhouse, Grandmont Abbey in the homonymous village, now part of the commune of Saint-Sylvestre, in the department of...
had dwindled in popularity, and was eventually dissolved, and the Priory was absorbed into the Diocese of Lodève. Two monks remained in the Priory until their deaths in 1785.
It was known to be one of the strictest, and austere orders of the Middle Ages. There was no hierarchy, with no archives, and no heating. The monks walked with bare feet, in perpetual silence. They ate no meat, and fasted regularly. As they worked, they engaged in silent prayer. Theirs was the first order to be permitted to beg for food.
After 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...
, the priory passed into the hands of a local merchant family, who developed it as a home, and agricultural estate.
From 1849 to 1936 it was owned by the Vitalis family, who were cloth manufacturers. Etienne Vitalis restored the buildings, making them fit for habitation, and wine production.
In 1957 it was bought by the Bec family, who owned a local engineering firm. In 1980 the Priory was classed as an historic monument, and opened its doors to the public.
Architecture
The Priory of St Michel de Grandmont is the only surviving monument of the order of Grandmont, a movement of monastic reform, dating from the 12th Century. This ancient PrioryPriory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
was restored by its private owners over the last century. The group of buildings includes a church, a Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
cloister surmounted by a charming pinnacle, and a chapter house and cellar.