The site of Asnières was granted in the mid-11th century to the Abbey of Saint-Nicolas d’Angers (Maine-et-Loire) by Grécie and her son Giraud († c. 1066), lords of Montreuil-Bellay. In 1114, Bernard of Tiron († 1116), founder of the Abbey of Sainte-Trinité de Tiron (Eure-et-Loir) and of the congregation of the same name, sent monks there, who settled with the agreement of Saint-Nicolas d’Angers.
Bell tower and location of the lost nave
The house received the support of Giraud II of Montreuil-Bellay († c. 1161), which allowed it to attain the status of an abbey in 1129. Construction also began on a notable church, which served as the burial place of that lineage. It later went through a period of some decline and, in 1569, the house was plundered by the Huguenots. It could not be fully restored and, in 1746, the abbey was suppressed. The church remained in the care of a priest.
Following the Revolution, the site passed into private hands and, in the mid-19th century, the demolition of the church began. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was recognized as a historic monument, and in 1950 it became publicly owned. The church, built between the 12th and 13th centuries, is only partially preserved: the north wall, Romanesque, and much of the chancel, from the early Gothic period. Remains of other monastic buildings also survive.
South facade of the transept
Side apse
Gothic chapel
Facade of the chapter house
Church floor plan
Published in Asnières (1911)
- BAUDRILLART, Alfred (1930). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques. Vol. 4. París: Letouzey et Ané
- BERGER, Eugène (1861). L'abbaye d'Asnières et l'ermitage des Gardelles. Revue de l'Anjou et de Maine-et-Loire, vol. 1. Angers
- BESSE, Jean-Martial (1920). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France, vol. 8, Tours. París : Picard
- MUSSAT, André (1964). Asnières. Congrès archéologique de France, 122 ss. Société française d'archéologie
- RHEIN, André (1911). Asnières. Congrès archéologique de France, 77 ss. Société française d'archéologie
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1856). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 14. París: Typographia Regia
The Abbey of Asnières is located in an isolated setting within the commune of Cizay-la-Madeleine (Maine-et-Loire), southeast of Angers