Abbey of Saint-Jean de la Castelle
Abbaye de Saint-Jean de la Castelle / S Johannis de Castella / Grâce-Dieu / Gratiae-Dei
(Duhort-Bachen, Landes)
The Premonstratensian abbey of Saint-Jean de la Castelle was established on the site of an earlier Benedictine monastery, documented as early as 1073. In 1155, Count Pierre de Marsan, after contributing to the foundation of the Abbey of Notre-Dame de La Casedieu (Gers), introduced a Premonstratensian community to this location. The historical details of this house are scarce due to the lack of surviving documentation.
The canons of Saint-Jean de la Castelle were responsible for several parishes in the surrounding region. Additionally, in 1345, they acquired ownership of the sanctuary and hospital of Notre-Dame de Sarrance (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), where they sent canons to establish a priory, which later became an abbey. Between 1568 and 1570, Saint-Jean was destroyed by Calvinists, resulting in the deaths of several canons and the destruction of the abbey’s archives.
After being subjected to the commendatory system, regular abbots were reinstated in the latter half of the 16th century. During the late 16th century and much of the 17th century, the abbey underwent reconstruction. However, in 1728, a fire caused significant damage, necessitating further restoration. In 1791, during the French Revolution, the site was sold. At the time of its suppression, the abbey housed a community of ten canons. The church and most of the monastic buildings were demolished in 1832, with the remaining structures converted into a manor house.
Armorial général de France
Charles d'Hozier (s. XVIII)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
- ABADIE, Stéphane (2016). Un temporel monastique dans l’espace médiéval gascon : l’abbaye prémontrée de la Casedieu (Gers), XIIe-XVIe s. Tesi doctoral. Université Toulouse le Mirail - Toulouse II
- ABADIE, Stéphane (2019). L’Ordre de Prémontré en Agenais. Prieurés et granges dépendant de l’abbaye Saint-Jean de la Castelle. Bulletin de la Société académique d'Agen, núm. 146.3
- ARDURA, Bernard (1993). Abbayes, prieurés et monastères de l'ordre de Prémontré. Nancy: Presses U. De Nancy
- BACKMUND, Norbert (1956). Monasticon Praemonstratense Vol. 3. Straubing
- BAUDRILLART, Alfred (1949). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques. Vol. 11. París: Letouzey et Ané
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Auch, Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1715). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 1. París: Coignard
The present-day manor of Saint-Jean de la Castelle is located in the commune of Duhort-Bachen, northwest of Aire-sur-l’Adour