Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Robert of Arbrissel

Robert d'Arbrissel (1045 – 1116) started his remarkable career as a humble itinerant preacher. After a conflict with the bishop of Rennes, he was exiled to Paris, where he studied. The same bishop recalled him to the diocese later and appointed Robert to be an archpriest for reforming the clergy, what meant fighting simony, lay investiture, clerical concubinage etc. His reforming zeal aroused such enmity that in 1093, after the bishop´s death, he was compelled to leave the diocese. He became a hermit and lived in the forest, but he did not stay lonely there. His piety, eloquence, sympathetic view of women attracted many followers, for whom in 1096 he founded the monastery of La Roé. The same year, Pope Urban II, touring through France, after he had launched the First Crusade during the Council of Clermont, met Robert and appointed him "preacher second only to himself". Robert was not interested in the crusade at all. He left the convent and, living in the utmost destitution, restarted his life as an itinerant preacher, addressing the poor. His eloquence and his his ascetic appearance, drew crowds. He again came into conflict with a bishop. In 1100, during a council in Poitiers, he was requested to give up his nomadic life and to settle down with his followers. A piece of land ("Fons Evraldi") was bestowed on him, where at 1001 Robert founded the "double monastery" Fontevraud Abbey. Robert invited people of every age and condition to join - "under the leadership of a woman". This may have attracted many noble and wealthy ladies, to join the convent. Robert himself could bear the sedentary life only for a short while. He appointed Hersende de Champagne (Heloisa´s mum?) to lead the convent and hit the road again. In 1116 Robert died in the Priory of Orsan (Centre). At that time Hersende had already commissioned the church. The construction started in 1104. The monastery, Hersende had in mind, when she started the construction, should accomodate at least 500 nuns and "fratres". It actually is still today one of the largest monastic ensembles in Europe. From the very beginning the abbey had a strong support from the House of Plantagenet, who were Counts of Anjou at that time.

Robert d'Arbrissel (1045 – 1116) started his remarkable career as a humble itinerant preacher. After a conflict with the bishop of Rennes, he was exiled to Paris, where he studied. The same bishop recalled him to the diocese later and appointed Robert to be an archpriest for reforming the clergy, what meant fighting simony, lay investiture, clerical concubinage etc. His reforming zeal aroused such enmity that in 1093, after the bishop´s death, he was compelled to leave the diocese. He became a hermit and lived in the forest, but he did not stay lonely there. His piety, eloquence, sympathetic view of women attracted many followers, for whom in 1096 he founded the monastery of La Roé. The same year, Pope Urban II, touring through France, after he had launched the First Crusade during the Council of Clermont, met Robert and appointed him "preacher second only to himself". Robert was not interested in the crusade at all. He left the convent and, living in the utmost destitution, restarted his life as an itinerant preacher, addressing the poor. His eloquence and his his ascetic appearance, drew crowds. He again came into conflict with a bishop. In 1100, during a council in Poitiers, he was requested to give up his nomadic life and to settle down with his followers. A piece of land ("Fons Evraldi") was bestowed on him, where at 1101 Robert founded the "double monastery" Fontevraud Abbey. Robert invited people of every age and condition to join - "under the leadership of a woman". This may have attracted many noble and wealthy ladies, to join the convent. Robert himself could bear the sedentary life only for a short while. He appointed Hersende de Champagne (Heloisa´s mum?) to lead the convent and hit the road again. In 1116 Robert died in the Priory of Orsan (Centre). At that time Hersende had already commissioned the church, seen here in the evening sun. The construction started in 1104. The monastery, Hersende had in mind, when she started the construction, should accomodate at least 500 nuns and "fratres".

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The interior has some great carvings. The preparations for the ceremony were underway, watched by this strange hybrid creature on the capital.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The interior has some great carvings. One of them depicts an old harpist.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The Mass had ended and I had climbed up the stairs to the gallery. So I could be face to face with the wildlife up there. But not only lions populate the capitals. Here is a bearded face. Bulging eyes staring at me.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The Mass had ended and I had climbed up the stairs to the gallery. So I could be face to face with the wildlife up there. As the gallery was erected after medieval times, the lions were not seen from this angle in the 12th century. The soft, artistic style reminds a bit on to the workshop, who carved the capitals in Faye-la-Vineuse.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The Mass had ended and I had climbed up the stairs to the gallery. So I could better see the wonderful capitals of the nave. To my surprise a large family gathered for a baptism.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. While western facade got reconstructed and fortified during the 15th century, and does not have the elegance of the "style pointevin", the northern portal is still in perfect condition.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The western facade got reconstructed and fortified during the 15th century, so it does not have the elegance of other Romanesque churches in the region of Poitou-Charentes. The Mass had just ended on a sunday morning.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory (here seen from east) survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church.