Flavigny-sur-Ozerain
Encyclopedia
Flavigny-sur-Ozerain is a commune
in the Côte-d'Or
department in the region of Burgundy
in eastern France
.
The old village is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
("The most beautiful villages of France") association.
raids, the relics of Ste Reine or Regina were removed from the nearby town of Alise
to Flavigny in the hopes that they could be better protected in a more fortified setting. The relics remain in Flavigny to this day, although they travel back to Alise every fall for the celebration of the saint's holy day in early September.
The town was prosperous during the Middle Ages, catering to large numbers of pilgrims, both those who came to visit the local saint and those on their way to Compostella. By the 10th century, the abbey had grown into a town, with a parish church dedicated to St Genest in addition to the abbey church (dedicated to St Peter). During the 12th and 13th centuries, extensive fortifications were raised around the town; large portions of the wall are visible to this day, including the Porte du Val (which includes both an inner gate dating to the 13th century and a sixteenth century outer gate), and the 15th century Porte du Bourg with its statue of the Virgin. In spite of these fortifications, Flavigny was occupied by the English during the Hundred Years' War
.
In 1632 the Ursuline convent of Flavigny was founded and in the early 18th century a new residence for the Abbot of Flavigny was constructed; by that time the abbacy had become corrupt and was held by a layman who had little to do with the town. At the beginning of the French Revolution
, there may have been as few as five monks in residence. The abbey church was probably already ruinous, although local tradition holds that it suffered damage at the hands of revolutionaries. The parish church was more or less unharmed.
In the 21st century, Flavigny has something fewer than 400 year-round residents, although this number increases in the summer due to the foreigners (Swiss, American, Australian, German) who have summer homes in the village. The abbey now houses the factory which manufactures Les Anis de Flavigny, small aniseed flavored pastilles with a world wide popularity. Various artists an artisans make their homes in the village, and it has become a popular tourist destination.
.
Flavigny is the sole producer of the anise
-flavored candy Anise of Flavigny
, which was first manufactured by the monks.
The 2000 movie Chocolat by Lasse Hallstrom
was shot in Flavigny.
It has a seminary
of the Society of St. Pius X
, a traditionalist
organisation, the Séminaire International Saint Curé d'Ars. The society has no canonical status within the Roman Catholic Church
but is presently engaged in dialogue with the Vatican about achieving this in the future (see the Present canonical status of the SSPX).
The Jardin botanique textile
is a botanical garden specializing in plants used for textiles, baskets, and rope.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or is a department in the eastern part of France.- History :Côte-d'Or is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was formed from part of the former province of Burgundy.- Geography :...
department in the region of Burgundy
Bourgogne
Burgundy is one of the 27 regions of France.The name comes from the Burgundians, an ancient Germanic people who settled in the area in early Middle-age. The region of Burgundy is both larger than the old Duchy of Burgundy and smaller than the area ruled by the Dukes of Burgundy, from the modern...
in eastern 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 old village is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France is an independent association, created in 1982, which aims to promote assets of small and picturesque French villages of quality heritage...
("The most beautiful villages of France") association.
Geography
The medieval city of Flavigny is situated on a rocky spur, surrounded by three streams, the Ozerain, the Recluse and the Verpant.History
The village of Flavigny is first mentioned, as Flaviniacum, in the cartulary (or charter) of the Benedictine Abbey founded on the site by a certain Widerard in 719. In the mid-9th century, in response to the increasing frequency of VikingViking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
raids, the relics of Ste Reine or Regina were removed from the nearby town of Alise
Alise
Alise is the third album by Latvian band Dzeltenie Pastnieki, released through magnitizdat in 1984, and 'officially' as late as 2004.The album was based on the music the band recorded for an amateur stage adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass,...
to Flavigny in the hopes that they could be better protected in a more fortified setting. The relics remain in Flavigny to this day, although they travel back to Alise every fall for the celebration of the saint's holy day in early September.
The town was prosperous during the Middle Ages, catering to large numbers of pilgrims, both those who came to visit the local saint and those on their way to Compostella. By the 10th century, the abbey had grown into a town, with a parish church dedicated to St Genest in addition to the abbey church (dedicated to St Peter). During the 12th and 13th centuries, extensive fortifications were raised around the town; large portions of the wall are visible to this day, including the Porte du Val (which includes both an inner gate dating to the 13th century and a sixteenth century outer gate), and the 15th century Porte du Bourg with its statue of the Virgin. In spite of these fortifications, Flavigny was occupied by the English during the Hundred Years' War
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
.
In 1632 the Ursuline convent of Flavigny was founded and in the early 18th century a new residence for the Abbot of Flavigny was constructed; by that time the abbacy had become corrupt and was held by a layman who had little to do with the town. At the beginning of 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...
, there may have been as few as five monks in residence. The abbey church was probably already ruinous, although local tradition holds that it suffered damage at the hands of revolutionaries. The parish church was more or less unharmed.
In the 21st century, Flavigny has something fewer than 400 year-round residents, although this number increases in the summer due to the foreigners (Swiss, American, Australian, German) who have summer homes in the village. The abbey now houses the factory which manufactures Les Anis de Flavigny, small aniseed flavored pastilles with a world wide popularity. Various artists an artisans make their homes in the village, and it has become a popular tourist destination.
Population
Sights
Flavigny AbbeyFlavigny Abbey
Flavigny Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery, now occupied by the Dominicans, in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Côte-d'Or département, France.-Benedictines:This monastery was founded in 717 by Widerad, who richly endowed it...
.
Flavigny is the sole producer of the anise
Anise
Anise , Pimpinella anisum, also called aniseed, is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Its flavor resembles that of liquorice, fennel, and tarragon.- Biology :...
-flavored candy Anise of Flavigny
Anise of Flavigny
Anise of Flavigny is a candy from Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in Burgundy.Each candy is made of a single anise seed, coated with sugar syrup infused with flavorings, such as anise, violet, rose, mint, jasmine, liquorice, orange....
, which was first manufactured by the monks.
The 2000 movie Chocolat by Lasse Hallstrom
Lasse Hallström
Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström is a Swedish film director. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for My Life as a Dog and later for The Cider House Rules .-Life and career:...
was shot in Flavigny.
It has a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of the Society of St. Pius X
Society of St. Pius X
The Society of Saint Pius X is an international Traditionalist Catholic organisation, founded in 1970 by the French archbishop Marcel Lefebvre...
, a traditionalist
Traditionalist Catholic
Traditionalist Catholics are Roman Catholics who believe that there should be a restoration of many or all of the liturgical forms, public and private devotions and presentations of Catholic teachings which prevailed in the Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council...
organisation, the Séminaire International Saint Curé d'Ars. The society has no canonical status within the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
but is presently engaged in dialogue with the Vatican about achieving this in the future (see the Present canonical status of the SSPX).
The Jardin botanique textile
Jardin botanique textile
The Jardin botanique textile is a botanical garden specializing in plants used for textiles, baskets, and rope. It is located on Rue Lacordaire, Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Côte-d'Or, Burgundy, France, and open daily in the warmer months; an admission fee is charged.Initially a vegetable garden, and...
is a botanical garden specializing in plants used for textiles, baskets, and rope.