The Augustinian canonry of Saint-Laon de Thouars is dedicated to Saint Lô (also known as Laudus or Laon, † c. 565), bishop of Coutances in the mid-6th century. According to tradition, due to the Norman invasions of the 9th century, his relics were transferred to present-day Saint-Laon (Vienne), east of Thouars, and placed in a chapel where they were venerated.
In the 11th century, the relics were brought to Thouars by Achard, lord of Saint-Laon, and placed in a newly built church dedicated to Notre-Dame and Saint-Laon. In 1021, a small community of four canons was established to care for the church and the saint’s tomb. In 1096, the bishop of Poitiers entrusted the church to the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Florent de Saumur (Maine-et-Loire), from which it became dependent. However, in 1107 a conflict broke out between the two houses, and ultimately Saint-Laon, by then already endowed with significant property, separated from Saumur and adopted the Rule of Saint Augustine.
In the following years — and centuries — numerous episodes attest to the relaxation of regular observance within the community, including some particularly scandalous cases. On the other hand, Princess Margaret of Scotland (1424–1445), wife of the future Louis XI of France, was associated with this house, founded a chapel there, and was buried in it in 1479. From the late 15th century, the canonry was governed by commendatory abbots. In 1655, the situation was regularised by the community’s adhesion to the Congregation of Sainte-Geneviève, which also enabled the reconstruction of the monastic buildings. The abbey was suppressed in 1790 and, after the Revolution, the church became a parish.
The present church of Saint-Laon de Thouars is the result of successive alterations made to the original 11th-century building, designed with a single nave. Its imposing bell tower, built in the 12th century and attached to the nave, is a prominent feature. Major works were also undertaken in the 15th century thanks to Margaret of Scotland, including the addition of a chapel. From this period survives a sculpted group representing the Entombment of Christ. The former abbatial palace, built in the 17th century, now houses the town hall of Thouars.
Entombment of Christ (s. XV)
Tomb of Abbot Nicolas Lecocq (15th century)
Veüe de l'esglisse, et Abbaye de St Lon à Thouars
Louis Boudan (1699)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Illustration from Monumens religieux, militaires et civils du Poitou (1843)
- ARNAULD, Charles (1843). Deux-Sèvres. Première série : monumens religieux, militaires et civils du Poitou. Niort: Robin
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Auch, Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- IMBERT, Hugues (1871). Histoire de Thouars. Niort: Clouzot
- IMBERT, Hugues (1876). Cartulaire de l’abbaye de Saint-Laon de Thouars. Niort: Clouzot
- JOY, Diana (2004). Thouars, collégiale Saint-Laon. Congrès archéologique de France, 159e session, 2001, Deux-Sèvres. Société française d’archéologie
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1720). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 2. París: Typographia Regia
- SALET, Sabine (1970). Mises au tombeau. La Mise au tombeau de Saint-Laon de Thouars. Bulletin Monumental. Vol. 128
The church of Saint-Laon stands in the centre of the town of Thouars