Abbey of l’Île-Barbe

Beyond traditions that place the arrival of Christianity on the island in apostolic times, the monastery is documented from the early fifth century, when Gregory of Tours records the arrival of a disciple of Saint Martin. The numerous transformations undergone by the site, especially after the Wars of Religion and the Revolution, make it difficult to interpret the various monastic spaces, a task in which archaeology plays a key role.

This restoration was completed with the adoption of the Rule of Saint Benedict, introduced to the island through the intervention of Benedict of Aniane. From that point onwards, the abbey developed and gained considerable importance: during the Middle Ages it came to house a community of around one hundred monks, several churches were built — or rebuilt — some of them with earlier antecedents, and it also possessed a significant number of dependent priories. This period marked the height of its prosperity; thereafter the monastery declined, adopted the commendatory regime in the sixteenth century, and in 1549 was secularized and transformed into a collegiate church.

The Revolution left the site in private hands and it was converted into several residences. To the east of the church of Saint-Martin stand the small churches of La Madeleine and, further away, that of Saint-André — now Sainte-Anne. On the southern side are the substantial remains of the chapel of Notre-Dame, heavily altered but still preserving its bell tower; it was formerly used by pilgrims. In addition to the places of worship, the auxiliary and defensive buildings should be noted, forming a remarkable architectural complex.