Abbaye d'Art
a brief history
A Thousand Years of Heritage in the Heart of Saintonge
The history of Trizay Abbey began almost a thousand years ago. The Priory of Saint John the Evangelist, commonly known as Trizay Abbey, was founded in the 12th century and belonged to the prestigious La Chaise-Dieu Abbey in Auvergne. Its remarkable Romanesque church, distinguished by its exceptional octagonal plan, was built between the late 11th and early 12th centuries.
Centuries of Change
Throughout its history, the abbey experienced both periods of prosperity and times of hardship. It was partially rebuilt at the end of the 15th century following the destruction caused by the Hundred Years’ War, only to suffer further devastation during the French Wars of Religion.
From Ruin to Renewal
An inventory drawn up in 1692 described the buildings as being in ruins and used for agricultural purposes. During the 18th century, the chapter house was converted into stables, the church became the village church, and the remaining buildings were occupied by tenant farmers.
Although the site was listed as a Historic Monument in 1920, it continued to deteriorate until 1989, when the Municipality of Trizay purchased the entire estate.
A Restoration Led by the Municipality
Today, the abbey is managed by a local association that has transformed it into a vibrant cultural centre where heritage, art and contemporary creation come together, bringing new life to this remarkable historic monument.
Between 1989 and 2004, Trizay Abbey underwent a comprehensive restoration directed by Philippe Oudin, Chief Architect for Historic Monuments.
Following emergency conservation work and major structural repairs, the monastic buildings were carefully restored to accommodate cultural activities. It was during this campaign (1996–1997) that the wall paintings were uncovered and restored.
The church itself was restored between 1998 and 2004. Archaeological excavations revealed the original octagonal ground plan, which has since been marked out on the floor. These discoveries confirmed that the priory church was built on a centrally planned design—an exceptionally rare feature in this region and one that continues to intrigue historians.
The restoration was completed with the installation of contemporary stained-glass windows designed by Richard Texier and created by Gilles Rousvoal, later complemented in 2012 by new windows by Father Kim En Joong.
Romanesque Architecture
Trizay Abbey preserves an outstanding collection of Romanesque sculptures, created during two successive building campaigns around 1100 and 1130. These sculptures are characteristic of the Saintonge Romanesque style, combining fantastic beasts, human figures and richly carved vegetal motifs.
The conventual buildings remain visible on the south side of the site. They were once accessed via a staircase leading to the monks’ dormitory. The vaulted chapter house opens onto the former cloister through elegant multi-lobed arches, while a barrel-vaulted cellar occupies the southern section.
The upper floor, once used as the monks’ dormitory, has undergone significant alterations over the centuries. Recent restoration work uncovered a remarkable series of naïve mythological wall paintings, probably dating from the 17th century. Their precise meaning remains uncertain, although they may reflect the troubled context of the French Wars of Religion.
The adjoining building contains the refectory. Its walls date from the Romanesque period, while the present vault was constructed around the 15th century. It is decorated with paintings representing the symbols of the Four Evangelists, probably produced by the same workshop responsible for the mythological frescoes in the dormitory.
