Saint-Benoît - Abbaye Saint-Benoît de Quinçay

The Abbaye Saint-Benoît de Quinçay was founded around 670 by Saint Achard (Acardo), who later became abbot in Jumièges. It was known under the name Quinciacus Monasterium.

In 868 the monks fled, as during the Norman Invasions the monastery got destroyed and burned down.

Isembert I, Bishop of Poitiers, ordered the reconstruction in the early 11th century. In 1027 it exists under the name of "Abbas Sancti Benedicti de Quinciaco" as at that time the remains of Saint Benedict of Aizenay arrived. The abbey was depended on the chapter of the cathedral of Poitiers.

In 1569, when Poitiers was besieged during the Wars of Religions, infamous Gaspard II de Coligny installed the headquarters here. The chapter house was the cloister got destroyed and the chapter house was transformed into a stable. Under Louis XIV , the church was restored. The abbey rapidly declined and already in 1762 the abbey church was taken over by the parish.

The French Revolution chased away the last monks and put the abbey up for sale.

The buildings were acquired by the municipality in 1993 and got restored.

The very most of the cloister was destroyed during the Wars of Religions. The portal of the chapter house has some nice capitals.
Here is a weathered "Master of Beasts" holding two lions.