Souvigny
Encyclopedia
Souvigny is a commune
in the Allier
department in Auvergne
in central France
.
Today the main town of a canton of the Allier department, Souvigny has long been one of the major towns in the Bourbonnais
(it used to be the capital of that region), and the royal House of Bourbon
was based there. Ties with the nearby Cluny Abbey
add to its rich history.
sanctuary of Auvergne".
The Priory houses the remains of two abbots of Cluny who died at Souvigny: Mayeul
, the fourth abbot (who died in 994) and his successor Odilon (who died in 1049). Their sepulchres, which had sank into oblivion after the ravishings of the French Revolution
, were rediscovered by archaeologists in 2001 and 2002.
The town has two primary schools and a public nursery school. Public events includ:
The Benedictine Priory is outstanding in the Bourbonnais region. Beside a few abbots, the Dukes of Bourbon were buried here.
The region shows a convergence of styles. While Romanesque buildings in the proper sense are not found here, influences from Auvergne
, Berry
and Bourguignon are combined. The restoration around 1435 exemplifies a more straightforward Gothic
style.
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 Allier
Allier
Allier is a department in central France named after the river Allier.- History :Allier is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Auvergne and Bourbonnais.In 1940, the government of Marshal...
department in Auvergne
Auvergne (région)
Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not...
in central 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...
.
Today the main town of a canton of the Allier department, Souvigny has long been one of the major towns in the Bourbonnais
Bourbonnais
Bourbonnais was a historic province in the centre of France that corresponded to the modern département of Allier, along with part of the département of Cher. Its capital was Moulins.-History:...
(it used to be the capital of that region), and the royal House of Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
was based there. Ties with the nearby Cluny Abbey
Cluny Abbey
Cluny Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Saône-et-Loire, France. It was built in the Romanesque style, with three churches built in succession from the 10th to the early 12th centuries....
add to its rich history.
Population
Tourism
Souvigny was nominated “great regional site of Auvergne” in 1993 on the basis of its architectural riches, and subsequently, in 2003, it was made "great RomanesqueRomanesque 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,...
sanctuary of Auvergne".
Sights
The museums, gardens, annual exhibitions, and excursions to the Priory attract a great many tourists every year. The conserved wooded areas add to interest for tourists.The Priory houses the remains of two abbots of Cluny who died at Souvigny: Mayeul
Majolus of Cluny
Saint Majolus of Cluny was an abbot of Cluny. As a youth Majolus fled his family's estates near Rietz to stay with relatives at Mâcon due to the Muslim invasions. Majolus studied at Lyon and later became archdeacon of Mâcon.Offered the bishopric of Besançon, he became a monk of Cluny instead...
, the fourth abbot (who died in 994) and his successor Odilon (who died in 1049). Their sepulchres, which had sank into oblivion after the ravishings 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...
, were rediscovered by archaeologists in 2001 and 2002.
The town has two primary schools and a public nursery school. Public events includ:
- a botanical fair April 31 and May 1, 2011
- an antiques fair (in May)
- a medieval fair (beginning on the last Saturday of July)
- autumn music days (last weekend of September)
- regional sale of antiquarian books (in November).
Architecture
The region shows a convergence of styles. While Romanesque buildings in the proper sense are not found here, influences from Auvergne
Auvergne (région)
Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not...
, Berry
Berry (province)
Berry is a region located in the center of France. It was a province of France until the provinces were replaced by départements on 4 March 1790....
and Bourguignon are combined. The restoration around 1435 exemplifies a more straightforward 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....
style.