Monks' Chapel of Berzé-la-Ville
Berziaci Villa / Berciaco / Berzé-la-Ville Priory
(Berzé-la-Ville, Saône-et-Loire)
The modest priory of Berzé-la-Ville, known as the Monks' Chapel, was established by Cluny Abbey (Saône-et-Loire) during the abbacy of Hugh of Semur (1049–1109). The site of Berzé belonged to the women's priory of Marcigny (Saône-et-Loire), but in 1100 it passed into the hands of Cluny. During the last years of his life, Hugh often stayed there, taking advantage of its proximity to the abbey as a place of retreat. During one of these stays, the priory was damaged by a fire caused by lightning. When the abbot died, the building was still being rebuilt.
The Monks' Chapel remained in the possession of Cluny Abbey, which in the 17th century had the adjoining manor house built. Following the dissolution of Cluny Abbey during the French Revolution, the site at Berzé-la-Ville passed into private hands. The church is small, with a single nave ending in a semicircular apse. In 1887, the mural paintings decorating the chapel were discovered; they have survived in remarkably good condition considering their age. They are dated to the 12th century, probably shortly after the rebuilding of the church. Although the sale of the chapel and its mural paintings to an American buyer was negotiated at one point, the transaction was stopped at the last moment, and the ensemble remains in situ.
Wall paintings (12th century)
Photo by PMRMaeyaert, on Wikimedia
Wall paintings (12th century)
Photo by Ziegler175, on Wikimedia
Wall paintings (12th century)
Photo by Cantepien, on Wikimedia
Wall paintings (12th century)
Photo by Cantepien, on Wikimedia
Illustration from Miscellanea secundum usum ordinis Cluniacensis (12th-13th centuries)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
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- DULIN, Jean-Michel (2013). La chapelle des Moines de Berzé-la-Ville et la première croisade. Académie de Villefranche et du Beaujolais. Bulletin, 37
- LAPINA, Elizabeth (2005). The Mural Paintings of Berzé-la-Ville in the context of the First Crusade and the Reconquista. Journal of medieval history
- NICOLAS Fernand (2005). Les peintures murales à la Chapelle des Moines de Berzé-la-Ville. Académie de Mâcon
- OURSEL, Raymond (1974). Bourgogne romane. La nuit des temps, 1. Zodiaque
- ROLLIER-HANSELMANN, Juliette (2010). Ecclésiologie clunisienne et parcours liturgique: Berzé-la-Ville, Civate et Anzy-le-Duc. Espace ecclésial et liturgique au Moyen Âge. Lyon
- ROLLIER-HANSELMANN, Juliette (2010). Les peintures murales dans les anciens territoires de Bourgogne (XIe-XIIe siècles). De Berzé-la-Ville à Rome et d’Auxerre à Compostelle. Bulletin du centre d’études médiévales d’Auxerre. BUCEMA, 14
- ROLLIER-HANSELMANN, Juliette (2013). Etude des peintures murales romanes dans les anciens territoires de Bourgogne. De Berzé-la-Ville à Rome et d’Auxerre à Compostelle. In Situ, 22
- ROUX-PERINO, Julie (2008). Cluny. Vic-en-Bigorre: MSM
- VIREY, Jean (1916). Berzé-la-Ville. Congrès archéologique de France. 80e ss. Société française d'archéologie
Berzé-la-Ville lies west of Mâcon, in the direction of Cluny