Abbaye aux Dames, Saintes
The Abbey of Sainte-Marie-des-Dames (French: Abbaye aux Dames de Saintes) was the first Benedictine nunnery in Saintes in Charente-Maritime in France. It was founded in 1047 by Geoffrey II, Count of Anjou and his wife Agnes.[1] Agnes later retired to the nunnery and died there.[2]
One of its abbesses was Agnès de Barbezieux (1134-1174), whose relative, Eleanor of Aquitaine, was a generous donor to the abbey.
Madame de Montespan was educated here.
It is located next to the town's Arch of Germanicus and was classified a monument historique in 1948.[3]
Pictures
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Church -
Roman porch -
Door -
Nave -
References
- ^ Penelope D. Johnson, Equal in Monastic Profession: Religious Women in Medieval France, (University of Chicago Press, 1991), 195-196.
- ^ The Chapter Book of the Nuns of Saintes, Hugh Feiss, The Yale University Library Gazette, Vol. 67, No. 1/2 (October 1992), 13.
- ^ Base Mérimée: PA00105245, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French) Ancienne abbaye des Dames
External links
- Abbaye aux Dames - official site
45°44′41″N 0°37′27″W / 45.74472°N 0.62417°W
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