Compiègne - Saint-Antoine

The medieval history of Compiègne starts with a castle built by the Merovingian dynasty. Louis the Pious` son, Charles the Bald, renamed the town "Carolopolis". On the site of the olde Merovingian palace Charles founded the abbey "Notre-Dame de Carlopole" in 876. The abbey´s church was consecrated by Pope John VIII during a councial held here in 877. In 879 Louis the Stammerer, who had succeeded his father Charles, got buried here, as well as, 8 years later, Louis V, the last Carolingian monarch in West Francia. The abbey renamed "Abbaye Saint-Corneille" existed up to the French Revolution.

Connected to the abbey was the parish curch Saint-Antoine, founded in 1199. The church was erected in the first half of the 13th century, but, due to severe damage during the Hundred Years' War, the church had to rebuilt in the 16th century in a homogenious Gothic style.

When Pierre d’Ailly, author of "Imago Mundi", whose academic
career started here, preached in this church, when Jeanne d’Arc prayed here, the interior of the church was different.

Here the 16 members of the Carmel of Compiègne met to pray during the French Revolution. After their convent was surpressed, they had found shelter in a house neighbouring this church. They were arrested, taken to Paris, and sentenced to death. They were sent to the guillotine on 17 July 1794. Today they are known as the "Martyrs of Compiègne".