{{Short description|Abbey in Haute-Loire, France}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu | religious_affiliation = Catholicism | image = La-Chaise-Dieu JPG0 (6).JPG | coordinates = {{coord|display=title,inline}} | map_type = France Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes#France Auvergne#France | province = [[Auvergne]] | region = [[Haute-Loire]] | country = [[France]] | administration = [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]] | type = Abbey | patron = | architect = | architecture_style = [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] }} The '''Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu''', in [[Auvergne]] (''La Chasa-Dieu'' in [[Occitan language|Occitan]]), is a former [[Benedictines|Benedictine abbey]], headquarters of the Casadean order, located in the commune of [[La Chaise-Dieu]] in the [[Departments of France|department]] of [[Haute-Loire]].
The origin of the name is the Latin phrase ''Casa Dei'' (The House of God), hence the adjective "Casadean." The Benedictine abbey is renowned for its [[Gothic architecture]], its rich library, its workshop for liturgical books, its [[Danse Macabre]], its curious Hall of Echoes, its choir [[tapestry]] composed of twelve Flemish tapestries, and its [[Festival de musique de La Chaise-Dieu|music festival]] founded in 1966 by [[György Cziffra]].
== History == The Benedictine abbey, which gave its name (derived by analogical assonance from medieval Latin ''Casadei'') to a portion of the Auvergne plateau, was founded in 1043 by [[Robert de Turlande]], a hermit, Étienne de Chaliers, and a certain Delmas along with his disciples who arrived promptly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=28 décembre 1043 - Robert de Turlande fonde l'abbaye de La Chaise-Dieu - Herodote.net |url=https://www.herodote.net/28_decembre_1043-evenement-10431228.php |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.herodote.net}}</ref> Robert de Turlande obtained both the protection of the [[Holy See]] and a diploma from the King of the Franks, [[Henry I of France|Henry I]], dated September 20, 1052, confirming its elevation to an abbey.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jean-Pierre |date=2018-10-09 |title=L'histoire: St-Robert de Turlande. |url=https://les-amis-de-turlande.fr/lhistoire-st-robert-de-turlande/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Les Amis de Turlande |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
On August 18, 1095, [[Pope Urban II]] visited the abbey and proceeded with the dedication of the abbey church in honor of Saint [[Saints Vitalis and Agricola|Vital of Bologna]] and his master Saint Agricola, as confirmed by a papal bull dated September 7 at [[Saint-Gilles, Gard|Saint-Gilles]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Crozet |first=René |date=1937 |title=Le voyage d'Urbain II en France (1095-1096) et son importance du point de vue archéologique |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/anami_0003-4398_1937_num_49_193_5357 |journal=Annales du Midi |volume=49 |issue=193 |pages=42–69 |doi=10.3406/anami.1937.5357}}</ref>
A real growth began in the 14th century. In May 1342, Pierre Rogier, one of the monks of La Chaise-Dieu, became pope in [[Avignon]] under the name [[Pope Clement VI|Clement VI]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le pape Clément VI |url=https://www.abbaye-chaise-dieu.com/labbaye-son-histoire/le-pape-clement-vi/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Abbaye de La Chaise-Dieu |language=fr-FR}}</ref> It was he who financed the demolition of the old Romanesque church and the construction of the new abbey church in which he would be buried. He enlisted the three greatest architects of the time: Hugues Morel, {{Interlanguage link|Pierre de Cébazat|fr|Pierre de Cébazat}}, and Pierre Falciat. The abbey church was completed in 1378, during the pontificate of [[Pope Gregory XI]], who was Clement VI's own nephew.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Une histoire millénaire |url=https://www.abbaye-chaise-dieu.com/labbaye-son-histoire/son-histoire/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Abbaye de La Chaise-Dieu |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
== Architecture == The abbey church of Saint-Robert was built from 1344 to 1352 in the Gothic style, at the behest of Pope [[Pope Clement VI|Clement VI]] to house his tomb.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Peylet-Costantini |first=Frédérique-Anne |date=1997 |title=Un chantier de la papauté d'Avignon. L'abbatiale Saint-Robert de la Chaise-Dieu (1344-1352) d'après la comptabilité pontificale conservée aux Archives du Vatican |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/ephe_0000-0001_1995_num_11_1_13672 |journal=Annuaires de l'École pratique des hautes études |volume=128 |issue=11 |pages=281–284 |doi=10.3406/ephe.1997.13672}}</ref>
The abbey church replaces the old Romanesque building at the foot of which Saint Robert de Turlande, founder of the abbey, had been buried.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UcIZWiAhaxAC |title=Gazette des beaux-arts |date=1887 |publisher=Gazette des beaux-arts|pages=443 |language=fr}}</ref>
Larger and more spacious, the new abbey church belongs to the period of Rayonnant Gothic, embodying a version marked by great austerity. It is often considered a work of Southern Gothic, although its significance extends well beyond this regional context. The building has been classified as a [[Monument historique|historical monument]] since 1840.<ref>{{Base Mérimée|PA00092635|Église abbatiale Saint-Robert}}</ref>
The church's west [[façade]], approached by a flight of steps, is flanked by two massive towers. The [[nave]] and [[aisle]]s are of equal height and are separated from the [[choir (architecture)|choir]] by a stone [[rood screen]]. The choir, terminating in an [[apse]] with radiating chapel, contains the tomb and statue of Clement VI, carved [[choir (architecture)#Seating|stalls]] and some [[Flanders|Flemish]] tapestries of the early 16th century. There is a ruined [[cloister]] on the south side.<ref>{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=La Chaise-Dieu|volume=16|pages=48–49}}</ref>
== See also == * [[List of Benedictine monasteries in France]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Abbatiale de la Chaise-Dieu}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaise Dieu, Abbey Of}} [[Category:Romanesque architecture in France]] [[Category:Benedictine monasteries in France]] [[Category:Monuments historiques of Haute-Loire]] [[Category:Tourism in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]]