Abbaye de la Grâce Dieu

The abbey was founded by William X of Poitou who donated it to the Cistercians in 1136. The abbey was prosperous until 1395. Thereafter, wars and looting followed one another. Major restoration work was carried out in the 18th century. Private property. (Hire of reception rooms and accommodation. Throughout the year, the Abbaye de la Grâce-Dieu welcomes you in its authentic setting, located between Niort and La Rochelle. Weddings, christenings, birthdays, banquets, company seminars or training courses... ) In the Aunis region, there are only four ecclesiastical establishments that bear the title of Abbey: Grâce-Dieu, Notre Dame de Ré, Saint Laurent des Chaumes and Notre Dame de Charron. All four were part of the Cîteaux Order. The Monastery of Grâce-Dieu was the first to be owned by the Cîteaux Order in Aunis and Saint Bernard himself participated in its foundation. In 1135, William, the Duke of Aquitaine renounced the schism of Anacletus after an audience with Bernard, abbot of Clairvaux. In 1136, in order to recall the grace that God had given him to pull him out of the schism, the Duke of Aquitaine founded an abbey near his castle of Benon, which was called "Sainte Marie de la Grâce-Dieu", the Grace of God. The Abbey was burnt down in the 14th century (1395), during the Hundred Years' War. It had time to recover from its ruins and restore the buildings to their former glory before the Wars of Religion. During the civil and religious wars at the end of the 16th century, the Abbey of Grâce-Dieu was devastated and ruined by the Huguenots, as were many ecclesiastical establishments in the country. Throughout the 17th century, Abbot Elie Chevrauld and Abbot Morisset, his successor, restored the Abbey by recovering the usurped goods and rebuilding. These restorations simply took over the old buildings and made them habitable. A church was then built. The foundation stone was laid on 7 May 1734. An abbey house was also built "close to" and adjoining the "monks' cloisters". Thus, during the 18th century, a large part of the abbey's buildings were completely rebuilt. During the French Revolution, the Abbey of Grâce-Dieu and its assets were declared national property and then sold at auction. Nowadays, the building looks like it was built in the 18th century, but it has retained vestiges of earlier periods such as the treasure room, the vaulted flats, the 17th century chapter house and the chevet wall adjoining the current buildings. The latter is pierced by two beautiful niches, vaulted in a cul-de-sac, decorated on the key and each surmounting a small door. Near these doors, a small stoup can be seen in the wall. Protected elements: Remains of the chapter house, facades and roofs of the large building: listed by decree on 5 March 1965 Large building facing east-west, abbey house, dovecote: listed by decree of 21 September 1990