Abbey of Notre-Dame de Divielle
Abbaye de Divielle / Dei Villa / Villadei / Ville-Dieu
(Goos, Landes)
The origins of the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Divielle are poorly documented due to the loss of its archives. It is believed to have been founded around the year 979 by the Viscount of Tartas. Another version suggests that the first foundation took place around 1132, with the arrival of the Cistercians. However, this initiative did not last, and by 1209, the monastery was transferred to the Premonstratensians.
The first canons came from the Abbey of Notre-Dame de La Casedieu (Beaumarchés, Gers). Despite the support of the local aristocracy, the monastery developed modestly. By the mid-14th century, the community comprised about ten members who oversaw several parishes. Later, the monastery suffered the effects of the Hundred Years’ War and the introduction of commendatory abbots in 1513, which negatively impacted its economic development.
The effects of the Wars of Religion were even more devastating. In 1569, the monastery was burned down and had to be rebuilt. However, its recovery could not be completed, and in 1770, the abbey was suppressed. A few canons remained in charge of the site until it was sold in 1791 during the French Revolution. In 1870, an attempt was made to revive the monastery with a Trappist community, but it later passed into private hands. During the first half of the 20th century, most of the buildings were demolished. Today, only fragments of walls remain, including some ogival arches, now overrun by vegetation.
- 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
- ABBADIE, François (1877). Incendie du monastère de Divielle. Bulletin de la Société de Borda, vol. 2
- ARDURA, Bernard (1993). Abbayes, prieurés et monastères de l'ordre de Prémontré. Nancy: Presses U. De Nancy
- AUBERT, R. (1960). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques. Vol. 14. París: Letouzey et Ané
- BACKMUND, Norbert (1956). Monasticon Praemonstratense Vol. 3. Straubing
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Auch, Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- DEGERT, Alphonse (1924). L'abbaye de Divielle: Ses origines. Revue de Gascogne, vol. XIX
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1715). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 1. París: Coignard
The remains of the Abbey of Divielle are located in the commune of Goos (Landes), east of Dax