Ambronay Abbey (French: Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Ambronay; Abbey of Our Lady, Ambronay) is a Benedictine abbey, founded in the 11th century by Barnard de Romans, which stands in the commune of Ambronay in the Ain department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Ambronay Abbey
Abbey of Our Lady, Ambronay
Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Ambronay
Cloister of Ambronay Abbey
Ambronay Abbey is located in France
Ambronay Abbey
Ambronay Abbey
Location in France
46°00′24″N 5°21′42″E / 46.00656°N 5.36179°E / 46.00656; 5.36179
LocationAmbronay, Ain
CountryFrance
DenominationRoman Catholic

History

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A church was founded on the site by hermits in the 7th century, but this was destroyed by Saracens. A monastery was built here in around 803 by Saint Bernard of Vienne, the first abbot.

Most of the abbey was destroyed during the French Revolution in 1793[1] but the church, although converted into stables, survived and is once again a place of worship.

Description

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The surviving structures comprise a cloister and some buildings surrounding it, and the former abbey church, now the parish church of Ambronay. It is principally a Gothic building of the mid-13th century, with 15th-century additions, although the façade of one of the naves dates from the 9th century.

The church is regarded as a sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.[2]

Its excellent acoustics have led to its hosting the Ambronay Festival, an international festival of Baroque music.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Our Lady of Ambronay" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  2. ^ The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia describes it as "one of the two candles of devotion to Our Lady in the Diocese of Belley".
  3. ^ Festival d'Ambronay