Bonmont Abbey
Encyclopedia
Bonmont Abbey is the former Cistercian monastery in the municipality
of Chéserex
in the canton
of Vaud
in Switzerland
. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance
.
It was founded in the wake of the 11th Century Benedictine
reform movement. While the exact date and circumstances of the foundation are unknown, it was probably supported by the savoy
abbeys in Vallée d'Aulps and in the French Jura Mountains
. The oldest surviving document mentioning the abbey is a gift deed from the Lords of Divonne and Gingins in 1131. The deed mentions, without elaboration, the presence of a monastic community at Bonmont in 1123. From the deed, is certain that in 1131, six years after a visit of Bernard of Clairvaux
to the area, the monastery had joined the Cistercian Order.
In 1131, the foundation stone of the Abbey church was laid. Construction continued until the end of the 12th Century. The church was built during the transition from Romanesque
to Gothic
and includes elements of both styles. The original architecture was kept simple and sober, according to the strict rules of the Benedictine Order and in accordance with the desires of the Cistercians. However, the simple design of the church and the simplicity of monastic life was quickly replaced by wealth. Numerous donations enlarged the possession of the abbey and created ties between the monks and the local nobility. The area owned by the abbey stretched from the foot of the Jura to the Côte de Nyon and up to Aubonne
. Under the protection of the House of Savoy in the 13th Century, Bonmont Abbey was one of the richest monasteries in the Lake Geneva
area.
As the worldly wealth of the abbey increased, the strict rules of the Cistercians loosened. The church was decorated in vibrant colors starting at the 14th Century, ocher yellow or black floral motifs, and even paintings replaced the old rule that churches only have white lime plaster. There was also a significant structural change: in 1488 the humble roof turret was replaced by a massive tower over the transept
.
With the conquest of Vaud by Bern and the Reformation
the abbey was secularized in 1536. The monastery buildings were converted into agricultural buildings or were demolished. The abbey church was converted for practical use. The wood flooring was torn up and used to create a wine warehouse on the ground and a granary above in the nave
of the church. In the north transept, a cheese factory was established and in the south, a bakery. Just below the chancel arch there was room for a small chapel, which remained in operation. Because the church was put to secular use, it was saved from demolition. In 1761 the interior of the church was completely remodeled.
The old hospital of the Abbey remained in operation after the dissolution of the monastery until 1672. It was replaced in 1736 with a castle that housed the bailiwick
administrative office. Following the Vaud Revolution in 1798, the abbey buildings became state owned. It was privatized in 1802. In 1820 the church was dramatically transformed. Two new entrances, one with a pointed arch and another with a rounded arch, were built into the fifth bay of the southern side of the nave and the second bay of the northern side. Above the bakery a two-story home added.
In 1942 the church was declared a National Monument. In 1982 it became the property of the Canton of Vaud. The Canton carried out a thorough restoration which ended in 1995. The Bernese bailiwick castle and the castle grounds are still privately owned.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
of Chéserex
Chéserex
Chéserex is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.-Geography:Chéserex has an area, , of . Of this area, or 36.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 49.8% is forested...
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Vaud
Vaud
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance
Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
.
History
The abbey was founded between 1110 and 1120. It was first mentioned in 1123 as monte de bono.It was founded in the wake of the 11th Century Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
reform movement. While the exact date and circumstances of the foundation are unknown, it was probably supported by the savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
abbeys in Vallée d'Aulps and in the French Jura Mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
. The oldest surviving document mentioning the abbey is a gift deed from the Lords of Divonne and Gingins in 1131. The deed mentions, without elaboration, the presence of a monastic community at Bonmont in 1123. From the deed, is certain that in 1131, six years after a visit of Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian order.After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Three years later, he was sent to found a new abbey at an isolated clearing in a glen known as the Val...
to the area, the monastery had joined the Cistercian Order.
In 1131, the foundation stone of the Abbey church was laid. Construction continued until the end of the 12th Century. The church was built during the transition from 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,...
to Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
and includes elements of both styles. The original architecture was kept simple and sober, according to the strict rules of the Benedictine Order and in accordance with the desires of the Cistercians. However, the simple design of the church and the simplicity of monastic life was quickly replaced by wealth. Numerous donations enlarged the possession of the abbey and created ties between the monks and the local nobility. The area owned by the abbey stretched from the foot of the Jura to the Côte de Nyon and up to Aubonne
Aubonne
Aubonne is a municipality in the district of Morges in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.-History:The municipality was settled very early. The oldest remains are from the Bronze Age. From Roman times, there remain foundations of villas, and from early medieval times, graves.The first documentation...
. Under the protection of the House of Savoy in the 13th Century, Bonmont Abbey was one of the richest monasteries in the Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva or Lake Léman is a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53 % of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40.47 % under France...
area.
As the worldly wealth of the abbey increased, the strict rules of the Cistercians loosened. The church was decorated in vibrant colors starting at the 14th Century, ocher yellow or black floral motifs, and even paintings replaced the old rule that churches only have white lime plaster. There was also a significant structural change: in 1488 the humble roof turret was replaced by a massive tower over the transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
.
With the conquest of Vaud by Bern and the Reformation
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...
the abbey was secularized in 1536. The monastery buildings were converted into agricultural buildings or were demolished. The abbey church was converted for practical use. The wood flooring was torn up and used to create a wine warehouse on the ground and a granary above in the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
of the church. In the north transept, a cheese factory was established and in the south, a bakery. Just below the chancel arch there was room for a small chapel, which remained in operation. Because the church was put to secular use, it was saved from demolition. In 1761 the interior of the church was completely remodeled.
The old hospital of the Abbey remained in operation after the dissolution of the monastery until 1672. It was replaced in 1736 with a castle that housed the bailiwick
Bailiwick
A bailiwick is usually the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff, and may also apply to a territory in which the sheriff's functions were exercised by a privately appointed bailiff under a royal or imperial writ. The word is now more generally used in a metaphorical sense, to indicate a sphere of...
administrative office. Following the Vaud Revolution in 1798, the abbey buildings became state owned. It was privatized in 1802. In 1820 the church was dramatically transformed. Two new entrances, one with a pointed arch and another with a rounded arch, were built into the fifth bay of the southern side of the nave and the second bay of the northern side. Above the bakery a two-story home added.
In 1942 the church was declared a National Monument. In 1982 it became the property of the Canton of Vaud. The Canton carried out a thorough restoration which ended in 1995. The Bernese bailiwick castle and the castle grounds are still privately owned.