Abbey of Saint-Roman de l'Aiguille
Abbaye Saint-Roman de l'Aiguille / Saint-Romain-en-Argence / Romain de Acu
(Beaucaire, Gard)
The former abbey of Saint-Roman is located on an elevated site near the Rhône, an establishment which, despite the modifications it has undergone, has retained a large part of its ancient troglodytic structures. The site is probably dedicated to Romanus of Condat († 463), who encouraged the creation of several hermit monasteries, inspired by the tradition of the Desert Fathers.
Traditionally, it is thought that the site was already occupied by an eremitic community in the 5th century and that it became Benedictine in the 7th century, although the date would probably have to be put back to the 9th century, at the time of the unification of the norms and rules followed by the different monastic establishments in the Carolingian period. The house is first documented in 1008 in the cartulary of the abbey of Psalmodi (Gard). The link with the latter monastery became closer from 1102, when Saint-Roman became its priory, with the privilege of maintaining its own administration thanks to its seniority.
The site became a centre of attraction for pilgrims thanks to the relics of Saint Romanus and Saint Trophimus of Arles that were preserved there. During the 13th century the place would have been fortified. Between the 13th and 14th centuries the community was expelled from the monastery and did not return until 1310. In 1363 a college was established, an institution founded by Pope Urban V, which provided education and accommodation for young people. In 1537 the abbey of Psalmodi was secularized and its chapter sold the site of Saint-Roman. The new owners undertook major works, dismantling the rocks to extract stone for new buildings. Eventually, the site was abandoned, fell into ruin and the remaining walls were later demolished.
Seat carved into the rock
Illustration published by Blaud (1819)
- CHAUVAIN, Sylvie; i altres (2019). Saint-Roman de l'Aiguille Un ermitage, une abbaye troglodytique, une demeure seigneuriale. CCBTA
- COTTINEAU, Laurent-Henri (1939). Répertoire topo-bibliographique des abbayes et prieurés. Vol. 2. Mâcon: Protat
- LOUIS, Maurice (1932). Le Monastère Troglodytique de Saint-Romain d’Aiguille. Cahiers d'histoire et d'archéologie, vol. 4. Nimes: Larguier
- ROCHE, Jean (1979). L’abbaye de Saint-Roman de l’Aiguille. Congrès Archéologique de France. 134 Session. Pays d’Arles. París: Société Française d’Archéologie
Saint-Roman de l'Aiguille is located near the Rhône, northwest of Bellcaire.