Abbey of Saint-Martin de Lavilledieu
Villa Dei / La Villedieu / Priory of Lavilledieu
(Lavilledieu, Ardèche)
This Benedictine nunnery was founded in 1020 by Bertrand de Vogüé and placed under the authority of the Abbey of Saint-André-le-Haut, in Vienne (Isère), which sent an initial community there. Over time it developed prosperously, although the site is later mentioned as a priory dependent on Saint-André.
During the Hundred Years’ War the monastery was occupied and plundered. From 1377 onwards, following that destruction, the site was fortified; however, this did not prevent it from being attacked and burned again during the Wars of Religion. When restoration work had begun, the house suffered yet another assault and, finally, in 1643 the community chose to move to Aubenas. The church, now the parish church of Saint-Martin, has been preserved: a single-nave building with lateral chapels. Remains of some of the former monastic buildings are also still visible.
Saint-Martin Church
- BESSE, J.-M.; i altres (1939). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 9: Province ecclésiastique de Vienne. Abbaye de Ligugé
- COTTINEAU, Laurent-Henri (1939). Répertoire topo-bibliographique des abbayes et prieurés. Vol. 2. Mâcon: Protat
- FRANCUS, Docteur (1885). Voyage archéologique et pittoresque...le long de la rivière d'Ardèche. Privas
- MONTRAVEL, M. de (1903). Paroisses et monastères de Lavilledieu et de Saint-Maurice de Terlin. Revue historique, archéologique, littéraire et pittoresque du Vivarais. Privas: I. Centrale
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1865). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 16. París: Firmin Didot
Lavilledieu lies near Aubenas, to the south-east of the town