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360:. During Bernard's lifetime sixty-eight monasteries were founded from Clairvaux in France, Italy, Germany, England, Spain, and Portugal. Construction of the abbey in its roughly current form (named Clairvaux II by historians) began in 1135, and the abbey church was dedicated in 1174. However, the only building surviving from this time is a large 12th-century lay brother's building, eventually converted into a barn. By the end of the 12th century, it had founded 263 daughter monasteries. The structure of the abbey's church was the base for many of the churches of its daughter monasteries, with Clairvaux occupying a central space in the Cistercian world.
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The location made it possible to create mills and fish ponds and use the forest for timber and raising livestock. Large fish ponds were also located in the area east of the monastic buildings. The ponds were an important feature of monastic life, and much care was given by the monks to their construction and maintenance. They often remain as one of the few visible traces of these vast monasteries.
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388:(a former furnace tender at the oratory), fifteen cardinals, and a great number of archbishops and bishops. At the time of the Revolution Clairvaux had only 26 professed religious, counting the abbot, Louis-Marie Rocourt, 10 lay brothers, and 10 affiliated pensioners of the house; 19 of the religious and all the lay brothers were secularized.
411:, based on a real prisoner at Clairvaux, in 1834. Following a reform in 1875 that required individual cells for prisoners, "chicken cages", cells measuring 1.5 x 2-meter (5 x 6.5 ft), were installed, they remained in use until 1971, when prisoners left many of the historic buildings for newer buildings on the property.
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and short apsidal choir. To the east of each limb of the transept were two square chapels, divided according to
Cistercian rule by solid walls. Nine radiating chapels, similarly divided, surrounded the apse. The stalls of the monks occupied the four eastern bays of the nave, forming the ritual choir.
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On passing through the gateway, monks and visitors entered the outer court of the inner ward, to face the western facade of the monastic church. Immediately to the right of entrance was the abbot's residence, in close proximity to the guest-house. On the other side of the court were stables for the
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to the south, surrounded by the chief monastic buildings. Further to the east, the smaller cloister contained the infirmary, novices' lodgings, and quarters for the aged monks. Beyond the smaller cloister, and separated from the monastic buildings by a wall, lay the vegetable gardens and orchards.
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Starting in the 2000s, the prison was gradually dismantled, its prisoners sent to newer facilities. Comprehensive restorations began in 2013, and the prison was finally shut down in 2023. As of 2024, French government is in the process of selecting a candidate to carry over management of the abbey
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according to the decree of
November 2, 1789, the abbey was purchased in 1792 and converted into a glassworks, which was repossessed by the state upon its bankruptcy in 1808 and turned into a prison. This fate was not uncommon for former monasteries following the penal reforms of Napoleon, it also
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After two centuries of continental prominence and strict observance, Clairvaux began a long decline, but reforms were eventually undertaken. In 1615, Abbot Denis
Largentier restored the fasts, abstinences and other practices of the order. Starting in 1708, the brothers undertook a comprehensive
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The precincts were entered by a gateway at the extreme western extremity, giving admission to the lower ward. Here the barns, granaries, stables, shambles (slaughtering yard), workshops, and workmen's lodgings were located. Convenience was the only consideration for design. A single gatehouse
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and a relative of
Bernard, donated this valley to the colony of Cistercians. The Cistercians sought places both remote from the world, to be able to devote themselves to prayer, and well served by natural resources, to be entirely self-sufficient. Bernard was installed as first abbot by
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An additional wall, running from north to south, bisected the monastery into an "inner" and "outer" ward. The inner ward housed the monastic buildings, while the agricultural and other artisan endeavors were carried out in the outer ward.
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Cistercian monasteries were all arranged according to a set plan unless the circumstances of the locality forbade it. A strong wall, furnished at intervals with watchtowers and other defenses, surrounded the abbey precincts. Beyond it a
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reconstruction of the abbey's buildings in the classical style, dubbed
Clairvaux III by historians. The works were wide-ranging, and records indicate that construction was not complete upon the arrival of the revolution.
266:, is now in ruins; the bulk of the present structure dates from 1708. Clairvaux Abbey was a good example of the general layout of a Cistercian monastery. The abbey has been listed since 1926 as a
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was built in 1828. During the 19th century, the abbey held 2,700 prisoners, including 500 women and 550 children. Deplorable conditions at the abbey inspired Victor Hugo to write his short story
538:, artificially diverted from tributaries which flow through the precincts, completely or partially encircled the wall. This water furnished the monastery with an abundant supply of water for
403:. The abbey church was sold off as a quarry in 1812, as a result, the inmates were left without a place of worship and the prison's warden was dismissed. A small new chapel inside the former
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was founded from
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began. At that time, Clairvaux had in affiliation in France ninety-two houses with 864 religious. This abbey had given to the Church one pope,
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accommodation of the horses of the guests and their attendants. The church occupied a central position, with the great
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1004:"Reconversion de l'abbaye-prison de Clairvaux : la candidature d'EDEIS-ADIM retenue"
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314:, was sent with a group of twelve other monks to found a new house at Vallée d'Absinthe.
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Leroux-Dhuys, Jean-François (12 June 2012). "Clairvaux : de l'abbaye à la prison".
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An early 18th-century view of the abbey, prior to the reconstruction that began in 1708
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There was a second range of stalls in the extreme western bays of the nave for the
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afforded communication through the wall separating the outer from the inner ward.
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opened out of the east walk of the cloister in parallel with the south transept.
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Maurot, Élodie. "French state looking to 'sell' the former
Clairvaux Abbey",
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Gildas, Marie. "St. Bernard of
Clairvaux." The Catholic Encyclopedia
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1218: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
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Vol. 2. New York: Robert
Appleton Company, 1907. 17 December 2022
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Vol. 3. New York: Robert
Appleton Company, 1908. 17 December 2022
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in Brazil: the same name in Portuguese; also the seat of a former
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
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Gildas, Marie. "Abbey of Clairvaux." The Catholic Encyclopedia
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1142:, http://www.jstor.org/stable/177899. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.
1109:"Clairvaux | Cistercian Abbey, Monastery, Monks | Britannica"
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1181:"Abbaye de Clairvaux : inauguration des restaurations"
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Under his direction, the abbey developed rapidly. In 1118
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Bunson, Matthew; Bunson, Margaret & Bunson, Stephen.
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Christian monasteries established in the 12th century
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Bucher, François. “Cistercian Architectural Purism.”
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1280:Religious organizations established in the 1110s
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277:From 1808 to 2023, the grounds were occupied by
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262:. The original building, founded in 1115 by
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16:Former Cistercian friary in Aube, France
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312:Abbaye de Saint-Nicolas-lès-Cîteaux
1138:, vol. 3, no. 1, 1960, pp. 89–105.
702:1224–1232 — Raoul de la Roche-Aymon
344:was founded in 1121 by Bernard and
258:, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from
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557:Coat of arms of Clairvaux abbey
438:needs additional citations for
1275:1110s establishments in France
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773:1345–1358 — Bernard II de Laon
758:1291–1312 — Jean III de Sancey
755:1286–1291 — Jean II de La Prée
705:1233–1235 — Dreux de Grandmont
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1270:1115 establishments in Europe
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848:1626–1653 — Claude Largentier
764:1313–1316 — Conrad II of Metz
749:1280–1284 — Thibaud de Sancey
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358:Renaud III, Count of Burgundy
1250:Virtual Library of Clairvaux
854:1676–1718 — Pierre IV Bouchu
851:1654–1676 — Pierre III Henry
392:Having become state property
310:, a Benedictine monk of the
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1300:Tourist attractions in Aube
1205:"The Abbey", Clairvaux 2022
945:List of abbeys and priories
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860:1740–1761 — Pierre V Mayeur
325:Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne
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38:Main façade of the abbey
19:Not to be confused with
1187:(in French). 2015-07-10
1162:(in French). 2024-07-19
1010:(in French). 2023-12-20
983:La Marche de l'Histoire
294:Founding to dissolution
1095:La Croix International
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693:1217–1221 — William I
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893:Bernard of Clairvaux
699:1223–1224 — Lawrence
674:Garnier de Rochefort
447:improve this article
321:William of Champeaux
264:Bernard of Clairvaux
165:48.14722°N 4.78889°E
117:Bernard of Clairvaux
1315:Ville-sous-la-Ferté
1185:www.culture.gouv.fr
1160:www.culture.gouv.fr
1008:www.culture.gouv.fr
903:Giacomo da Pecorara
778:Jean V de Bussières
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1226:Abbey of Clairvaux
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1097:, December 2, 2022
923:Catholicism portal
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708:1235–1238 — Evrard
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90:Established
1259:Categories
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1166:2024-09-17
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965:References
540:irrigation
473:newspapers
397:Fontevraud
386:Eugene III
249:Cistercian
153:48°08′50″N
113:Founder(s)
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624:Fastradus
605:Bernard I
578:, with a
503:June 2016
405:refectory
252:monastery
156:4°47′20″E
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687:–1216 —
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