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St.Michel-en-l'Herm
Sud
Vendee.. Haut
Bocage.. Coastal
Region.. Marais
Poitevin.. Marais
Breton.. Bas Bocage.. Plaine.. Marais
Olonne..
Originally
it was the island of 'condet' (meaning meeting of two rivers)or more correctly
two islands with a fishing village back in the time of the Gauls, it stood out
in the former bay of Picton,now the Marais Poitevin, even though it's only 17m
above sea level.
The village with it's typical low whitewashed houses, around the large church, is today on the busy D746 which crosses the polders of Triaize on route to L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer.
Chaux Farm. Just north of St.Michel-en-l'Herm this far is built on a hillock of millions of oyster shells, whether it was for protection from the sea that would have lapped at its door or not nobody is sure, but still an interesting sight.
Abbeye du St.Michel-en-l'Herm.
In 682 the monks from Noirmoutier founded a priory, in what was then a deserted place "in eremo" (in the desert or en l'herm), by the orders of the bishop of Poitiers. It was seized by the Vikings in 877, turned into an Abbey in the 10th century, but was destroyed by fire in 1048. Each time the abbey recovered and from the 12th to 16th century the monks undertook drainage works on the Marais Poitevin including the " canal de Cinq Abbes" the first of the major drainage projects to recover the marsh lands.
The Wars of Religion(1562-98) saw great destruction when the protestants from La Rochelle attack the abbey in 1569 killing several hundred Catholics who had taken refuge there, before sacking the treasury.
In the 17th century it was again restored by Benedictine monks of St.Maur directed by Francois Leduc who under took the rebuilding of the refectory, lodgings of monks and abbots. The 19th century saw the rebuilding of the Gothic chapter house and calefactory who's vaulted arches arise from 4 pillars. With the Revolution it was deconsecrated before being sold along with the Chateau-de-Abbeye as a national asset.
Today the parts of the Abbey are open to the public ( see information office in main square for detail and tickets) who can view the 11th century church and 12th century chapter house which contains the tomb of abbot Aszo,the warming room of the 13th century and 17th century refectory.
Open: 15th June to 15th September
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10h 11h 15h 16h and 17h
Tarifs: Adults 3.5€ 7-12 year olds 1€
Museum Andre Deluoc. 1, rue de l'Etendard. St.Michel-en-l'Herm. Tel. 02 51 30 21 89. Exhibition of 150 sculptures in stone, marble and wood from 1929 to 1995.
Open: 15/6 to 15/9 Tuesdays to Sundays 15.00 till 18.30.
Tarif: 3€ under 12 years old free.
Restaurants in St.Michel-en-l'Herm.
La Rose Tremiere. 4,rue Eglise. Tel. 02 51 30 25 69
Return to find more interesting towns and villages in the Vendee
The village with it's typical low whitewashed houses, around the large church, is today on the busy D746 which crosses the polders of Triaize on route to L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer.
Chaux Farm. Just north of St.Michel-en-l'Herm this far is built on a hillock of millions of oyster shells, whether it was for protection from the sea that would have lapped at its door or not nobody is sure, but still an interesting sight.
Abbeye du St.Michel-en-l'Herm.
In 682 the monks from Noirmoutier founded a priory, in what was then a deserted place "in eremo" (in the desert or en l'herm), by the orders of the bishop of Poitiers. It was seized by the Vikings in 877, turned into an Abbey in the 10th century, but was destroyed by fire in 1048. Each time the abbey recovered and from the 12th to 16th century the monks undertook drainage works on the Marais Poitevin including the " canal de Cinq Abbes" the first of the major drainage projects to recover the marsh lands.
The Wars of Religion(1562-98) saw great destruction when the protestants from La Rochelle attack the abbey in 1569 killing several hundred Catholics who had taken refuge there, before sacking the treasury.
In the 17th century it was again restored by Benedictine monks of St.Maur directed by Francois Leduc who under took the rebuilding of the refectory, lodgings of monks and abbots. The 19th century saw the rebuilding of the Gothic chapter house and calefactory who's vaulted arches arise from 4 pillars. With the Revolution it was deconsecrated before being sold along with the Chateau-de-Abbeye as a national asset.
Today the parts of the Abbey are open to the public ( see information office in main square for detail and tickets) who can view the 11th century church and 12th century chapter house which contains the tomb of abbot Aszo,the warming room of the 13th century and 17th century refectory.
Open: 15th June to 15th September
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10h 11h 15h 16h and 17h
Tarifs: Adults 3.5€ 7-12 year olds 1€
Museum Andre Deluoc. 1, rue de l'Etendard. St.Michel-en-l'Herm. Tel. 02 51 30 21 89. Exhibition of 150 sculptures in stone, marble and wood from 1929 to 1995.
Open: 15/6 to 15/9 Tuesdays to Sundays 15.00 till 18.30.
Tarif: 3€ under 12 years old free.
Restaurants in St.Michel-en-l'Herm.
La Rose Tremiere. 4,rue Eglise. Tel. 02 51 30 25 69
Return to find more interesting towns and villages in the Vendee
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© Copyright Vendee-Guide.co.uk 2009-10
© Copyright Vendee-Guide.co.uk 2009-10