Acey Abbey
Acey Abbey (
History
The abbey was built in 1136 at the instigation of the
Its location on the boundary of the
The 17th century brought more destruction. In 1650, 6 bays of the nave of the abbey church collapsed over a length of 30 metres. In 1683 the abbey burnt down. Between 1745 and 1771 extensive restoration took place.
The French Revolution brought its dissolution in 1790. Various uses of the premises followed, after the restoration of the monarchy mostly religious, until in 1873 the buildings were again occupied by a Cistercian community, in the form of Trappist monks from Aiguebelle Abbey. Between 1900 and 1910 the church was restored. In 1938 the community was again raised to the status of abbey. It is the only Cistercian foundation in Franche-Comté still used for its original purpose.
Structures
The 12th-century church, listed as a monument historique since 1971, has been restored. The nave has been partitioned after the second bay to provide an exhibition area. Including that, the nave has eight bays. There are two side aisles, a transept with two chapels on the east side of each arm, and a choir with a flat end wall. The cloister lies to the north of the church.
Sources and external links
- Peugniez, Bernard, n.d.: Routier cistercien (2nd ed.), pp. 148–149. Editions Gaud: Moisenay ISBN 2-84080-044-6
- Acey Abbey official website (in French)
- Certosa di Firenze website: article on Acey Abbey with a few photos