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General Information

Name in local language: Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Ourscamp
Status: in ruins

Project Type

Structure: church:
Rib vault
Function / usage: Monastery
Church
Material: Masonry structure
Architectural style: church:
Gothic

Awards and Distinctions

Location

Location: , , ,
Coordinates: 49° 32' 5.58" N    2° 58' 24.04" E
Show coordinates on a map

Technical Information

Dimensions

chapel width 16 m
length 46 m
church width 24 m
length 102 m
height to key of vault 16 m

Materials

church masonry

Chronology

641

According to tradition, St. Eloi, bishop of Noyon after having been the goldsmith of the Merovingian kings, laid the first stone of an oratory.

Legend tells of a bear that came out of the woods and attacked the ox harnessed to a cart carrying the stones for the oratory's construction. As the bear was about to devour its prey, St. Eloi tamed the beast in three words and harnessed it in the ox's place until the construction of the chapel was completed.

1129

At the request of the bishop of Noyon, Simon de Vermandois, monks from the abbey of Clairvaux, under the leadership of Waleran de Baudemont, moved to Ourscamp in place of a monastery of regular canons.

1134

Consecration of the first abbey church by the Archbishop of Rheims.

1135

The abbey expanded toward Beauprè.

1137

The abbey of Ourscamp took under its guardianship the abbey of Mortemer, in the Eure.

1140

The abbey is expanding to Froidmont.

1152

The General Chapter of the Cistercian order allowed the burial of kings, queens, and bishops in abbey churches. That of Ourscamp would become the necropolis of the bishops of Noyon.

1154

The first abbey church having become too small, the monks began the reconstruction of a larger one that communicated with the first church through the north transept crossing.

His construction was made possible by a gift from Ode de Roye.

1157

The General Chapter authorized the burial of the founders in the abbey.

1201

The new abbey church was consecrated by the bishop of Noyon.

1220

Construction of the infirmary.

1254 — 1280

The flat chevet is replaced by an apse with ambulatory and radiating chapels on the model of the cathedral of Noyon.

1358

The abbey suffers severe damage during a jacquerie. The abbey is looted, partially burned, and monks are killed.

The community gradually recovers from this destruction.

1490

The abbey received the relic of the head of St. Anne brought back from Hungary by Matthieu du Plessis de Roye after the defeat at Nicopolis.

1677

Prince Louis of Lorraine, commendatory abbot, had the conventual buildings rebuilt to the south of the church in place of the converse wing.

1745

A Doric colonnade is built at the front of the church to hide the Gothic facade of the abbey.

1748

The Cardinal de Gesvres, commendatory abbot, had the abbey dwelling rebuilt to the north.

1784

Installation of a wrought iron gate at the entrance to the abbey's main courtyard.

1792

The community is driven out of the abbey.

1792 — 1797

The abbey became national property and served as a military hospital.

After 1797

The abbey is sold to Radix de Sainte-Foy who makes it a residence. Its two churches are destroyed. Remains of the chancel are preserved for use as a romantic setting.

1825

The abbey became the property of industrialists who set up a factory there. Weaving looms occupied the buildings.

1914

At the beginning of World War I, the abbey was occupied by the German army.

February 1915

The abbey was bombed by French artillery causing a fire that lasted three days.

1941

The Apostolic Congregation of the Servants of Jesus and Mary moves into the abbey.

The infirmary becomes the chapel of the Congregation. The wing built by Cardinal de Gesvres to the north served as housing for the religious. The wing built by Louis de Lorraine was not restored after the destruction of 1915.

Participants

Currently there is no information available about persons or companies having participated in this project.

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  • About this
    data sheet
  • Structure-ID
    20015923
  • Published on:
    03/04/2005
  • Last updated on:
    21/02/2023
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