Valloires Abbey
Encyclopedia
Valloires Abbey is a 12th century Cistercian abbey situated in the commune of Argoules
in the Somme
department of France
.
agreed with Cistercian monks to the foundation of their seventh abbey in France. The monk
s established themselves at Valloires in the valley of the Authie river in 1158 AD. At the height of its prosperity, in the 12th and 13th centuries, the abbey was home to about one hundred monks. The abbey’s wealth allowed the construction of the first abbey
in the rib-vaulted style as early as 1226.
In the following centuries, especially during the Hundred Years War and the Thirty Years War, the abbey suffered badly because of military operations and pillage. By the 17th century, it was nothing much more than ruins. But the abbey was rebuilt, the work being completed around 1730. In 1738, the preserved 13th century parts of the abbey collapsed and it was necessary to construct a new church. The work began in 1741, to the plans of the architect Raoul Coignard. The internal decoration was entrusted to the Austrian sculptor Simon Pfaff of Pfaffenhoffen and to metal worker Jean-Baptiste Veyren. The new church was consecrated in 1756 and as early as 1790 became a national monument, thanks to the efforts of the lord of the manor of Argoules
and so escaped further desecration.
In 1817, the abbey was handed into the care of the lay brotherhood of the Basilians
, then in 1880 to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
to be used as an orphanage. Sold again in 1906, it was classified as a historic monument, then abandoned. During the World War I
it was transformed into a military hospital.
In 1922, it became a preventorium
for children at the instigation of Thérèse Papillon, a young nurse.
Today the abbey is the property of an association founded in 1922. One part is devoted to the care of children in difficulty, the other is reserved for paying guests.
Created in 1989 with a collection of over 4000 rare plants, the Jardins de Valloires
cover an area of eight hectares.
Laid out below the abbey, the gardens are split into three distinct parts:
Gilles Clément
, the famous landscape gardener was assigned to create the gardens. His ideas integrated the wild environment and the historic character of the place, but with little regard for the monastic garden style. Valloires is very much a contemporary garden.
The collection spans a huge variety of species, such as maple
, spirea, deutzia
, beech
, plum
and rare apple
family members. Certain varieties are unique in Europe.
Recently, a new garden has been laid out, dedicated to the work of the naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
, born in the Somme
department in 1744.
Argoules
Argoules is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated north of Abbeville on the D192, on the banks of the Authie River.-Population:-Places and monuments:...
in the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
department of 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...
.
Early history
In 1138, Guy II of PonthieuGuy II of Ponthieu
Guy II of Ponthieu , the son of William III of Ponthieu and Helie of Burgundy, succeeded his father as Count of Ponthieu during William's lifetime. He died on the Second Crusade and was succeeded by his son John I of Ponthieu....
agreed with Cistercian monks to the foundation of their seventh abbey in France. The monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s established themselves at Valloires in the valley of the Authie river in 1158 AD. At the height of its prosperity, in the 12th and 13th centuries, the abbey was home to about one hundred monks. The abbey’s wealth allowed the construction of the first abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
in the rib-vaulted style as early as 1226.
In the following centuries, especially during the Hundred Years War and the Thirty Years War, the abbey suffered badly because of military operations and pillage. By the 17th century, it was nothing much more than ruins. But the abbey was rebuilt, the work being completed around 1730. In 1738, the preserved 13th century parts of the abbey collapsed and it was necessary to construct a new church. The work began in 1741, to the plans of the architect Raoul Coignard. The internal decoration was entrusted to the Austrian sculptor Simon Pfaff of Pfaffenhoffen and to metal worker Jean-Baptiste Veyren. The new church was consecrated in 1756 and as early as 1790 became a national monument, thanks to the efforts of the lord of the manor of Argoules
Argoules
Argoules is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated north of Abbeville on the D192, on the banks of the Authie River.-Population:-Places and monuments:...
and so escaped further desecration.
Recent history
Congregation of St. Basil
The Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of Saint Basil, is an international order of Catholic priests and students studying for the priesthood, who focus on education and ministering through oratories....
, then in 1880 to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul was a priest of the Catholic Church who became dedicated to serving the poor. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He was canonized in 1737....
to be used as an orphanage. Sold again in 1906, it was classified as a historic monument, then abandoned. During the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
it was transformed into a military hospital.
In 1922, it became a preventorium
Preventorium
A preventorium was an institution or building for patients infected with tuberculosis who did not yet have an active form of the disease. Popular in the early 20th century, preventoria were designed to isolate these patients from uninfected individuals as well as patients who showed outward symptoms...
for children at the instigation of Thérèse Papillon, a young nurse.
Today the abbey is the property of an association founded in 1922. One part is devoted to the care of children in difficulty, the other is reserved for paying guests.
The Gardens of Valloires
Jardins de Valloires
The Jardins de Valloires are botanical gardens located on the grounds of the 18th century Abbaye de Valloires in Argoules, Somme, Picardie, France...
cover an area of eight hectares.
Laid out below the abbey, the gardens are split into three distinct parts:
- An formal garden fin keeping with the abbey building
- An English style garden, which contains the rare plant collection
- A marsh wilderness garden.
Gilles Clément
Gilles Clément
Gilles Clément, born at Argenton-sur-Creuse, Indre, France in 1943, is a gardener, garden designer, botanist, entomologist and French writer. He has gained attention for his design of public parks in France, such as Parc André-Citroën. In 1998, he was the recipient of France's National Landscape...
, the famous landscape gardener was assigned to create the gardens. His ideas integrated the wild environment and the historic character of the place, but with little regard for the monastic garden style. Valloires is very much a contemporary garden.
The collection spans a huge variety of species, such as maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
, spirea, deutzia
Deutzia
Deutzia is a genus of about 60 species of shrubs in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to eastern and central Asia , and Central America and also Europe. By far the highest species diversity is in China, where 50 species occur.The species are shrubs ranging from 1–4 m in height...
, beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
, plum
Plum
A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...
and rare apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
family members. Certain varieties are unique in Europe.
Recently, a new garden has been laid out, dedicated to the work of the naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de la Marck , often known simply as Lamarck, was a French naturalist...
, born in the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
department in 1744.