Monastery of Saint-Avit-Sénieur
Abbaye Saint-Avit / Priory of Saint-Avit / S Avitus Senior
(Saint-Avit-Sénieur, Dordogne)
The origins of this monastic house are rather obscure, but it seems to have already been active in the 11th century. Accounts of the life of Gerald of Salles (c. 1050–1120) mention that he was a native of this region and that he received his training at the monastery of Saint-Avit between 1060 and 1065. It is likely that, during this early period, it was a Benedictine monastery.
It is recorded that, in 1097, the monastery came under the authority of the Augustinian canons of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse. In 1117, the Bishop of Périgueux consecrated an altar there and transferred the body of Saint Avitus (c. 487–570) to the church, where he would be venerated. This figure had practiced eremitism in the area, and his tomb was located nearby, in a place where a monastic community had likely already formed around him. The priory of Sainte-Croix-de-Beaumont was one of the dependencies of Saint-Avit.
In 1292, the canons were officially secularized, on the grounds that the monastic rule at Saint-Avit had long since fallen into decline. There is no record of possible damage suffered during the Hundred Years’ War, but in 1577, the abbey was severely damaged when it was occupied by the Huguenots, who killed the canons and destroyed several buildings. It was probably at this time that the apse was lost. Despite this, the canonry managed to recover, but in 1685 it was annexed to the chapter of Sarlat.
Wall decoration
Among the remains of the monastery, the church—originally from the 12th century—has been preserved, although it has undergone modifications over time. It has a single, wide nave, which was probably originally covered with domes. The apse has been lost, but various elements from other monastic buildings, such as the chapter house, have been preserved. The cloister was demolished, and its space was used as a cemetery until it was later removed.
Image of Saint Avitus
Chapter house
Illustration from L'architecture byzantine en France (1851)
Next to the Romanesque church of Sainte-Croix de Beaumont (12th century), at the time when Gausbert de Castelnau was prior of Saint-Avit, this canonry built a residence known as the Priory House, which it would have used between 1303 and 1323. In 1312, Pope Clement V joined the church of Sainte-Croix to the assets of the canonry.
- BANCHEREAU, Jules (1928). Saint-Avit-Senieur. Congrès archéologique de France. 90e session. Périgueux. París: Picard
- DUBOURG-NOVES, Pierre (1982). Saint-Avit-Senieur. Congrès archéologique de France. 137e session. Périgord Noir. París: Société Française d'Archéologie
- GARDELLES, Jacques (1973). Un manoir du XIVe siècle : la maison du prieuré à Sainte-Croix de Beaumont (Dordogne). Annales du Midi, núm. 112
- GARDELLES, Jacques (1982). Sainte-Croix de Beaumont. Congrès archéologique de France. 137e session. Périgord Noir. París: Société Française d'Archéologie
- GARDELLES, Jacques (1985). La sculpture figurative du cloître Saint-Avit-Sénieur. Bulletin Monumental, vol. 143-1
- SECRET, Jean (1968). Périgord roman. La nuit des temps, núm. 27. Zodiaque
- VERNEILH, Félix de (1851). L'architecture byzantine en France. París: Didron
Saint-Avit-Sénieur is located in the area between Bergerac and Sarlat
