The Abbaye de la Trinité of Vendôme !!!

Posted in Europe, France

We have driven in the area and stop by finally, and a great surprise indeed, This is the nice City of Vendôme in the Loir et Cher dept 41 of the Centre Val de Loire region of my belle France, There is so much to see , and did see more for you and me, So close by it many times and finally in ,a great surprise, nice town indeed! Therefore, here is my take on the Abbaye de la Trinité of Vendôme !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.

The City of Vendôme is located 36 km from Blois from where we were coming on the road D957,around City on the N10 to City center following signs for Rochembeau parking, The City is 89 km from Loches where we were first, and 359 km from our current home on the D357 short on the A28/A11 then on the A81 to N157 dir Rennes and past the rocade on the N24 going home on the D768.

The Abbaye de la Trinité or Trinity Abbey was founded in 1032, and saw the construction of the first church, which from 1056 escapes the Episcopal Chartraine jurisdiction to be attached directly to the Pope . In 1271, this building was deemed dilapidated by the monks who decided to rebuild it. A new choir is built around 1308. The harmony of proportions and the large bays decorated with clover patterns are representative of radiant Gothic architecture. It seems that, from the 12C, the Abbe Cardinal had a separate home of the common dormitories of the monks. The current building corresponds to part of all of the houses built in the 15C in the flamboyant Gothic style. We came easily from our parking at Parking du Quartier Rochambeau.

From the 11C, the abbot, at the head of the Benedictine monastery of the Trinity, bore the title of cardinal. This direct link to the papacy gave it its independence and a certain power. The abbey had up to a hundred monks under the abbacy of Geoffrey I (1093-1132). This exceptional privilege would last until the French revolution. In 1508, the virtuosity of the master builder, Jean Texier known as Jean de Beauce, combined with that of the sculptors to create the façade of the abbey church of the Trinity. This “sculpted embrasure” is one of the masterpieces of flamboyant Gothic art. The bell tower of the church is also an exceptional building constructed in the 12C. The cloister is a space reserved for the monks to meditate. It is at the heart of the functioning of this Benedictine abbey and included a dormitory, a refectory and the guest accommodation. During the French revolution of 1789, the monks left the abbey.

Very beautiful frescoes (late 11C early 12C) can be admired there. “The Miraculous Catch of Fish” remains the most beautiful of these painted scenes, illustrating one of the events that occurred after the Resurrection of Christ, The Benedictine Abbey of the Trinity had a church from the Romanesque period, but in 1271, this building was demolished and rebuilt in the Gothic style. A new choir was built around 1308. The harmony of the proportions and the large bays decorated with trefoil motifs are representative of the Rayonnant Gothic architecture. The misericords of the 15C stalls have many sculpted motifs and scenes. Dismantled during the French revolution to be used as firewood, only the lower parts were put back in place. The choir is illuminated by stained glass windows from the end of the 13C, arranged around the theme of the Trinity: as well as a stained glass window from the 14C representing Geoffroy Martel giving the abbot of the Trinity the reliquary of the Holy Tear. In the axial chapel, the most precious stained glass window is undoubtedly that of the Virgin of Vendôme (mid-12C), an almond-shaped glory presents her to us with the child in a feeling of gentleness and majesty. Finally, the abbey complex contains, among other things, a very beautiful chapter house (14C) in which Romanesque frescoes from the 12C with remarkably preserved colors will be accessible to you by contacting the museum located in the same courtyard of the cloister.

The abbey church remains a place of worship today; a weekly Mass is celebrated on Fridays at 8h. All Friday morning (in the warm season. One hour in winter), Christians take turns praying before the Blessed Sacrament. In the summer, Sunday Mass is held there for a month. The celebration of the feast of Saint Bienheuré, a hermit from Vendôme, is held there on the 1st Sunday in May. Commemorative masses for the end of the 1st and 2nd world wars take place there. The Christian community welcomes people to this place, particularly around the nativity scene at Christmas time; during the “Night of the Churches” event at the end of June.

The City of Vendôme on the Trinity Abbey : https://www.vendome.eu/dynamique/patrimoine/labbaye-de-la-trinite/

The Vendôme tourist office on the Trinity Abbey : https://www.vendome-tourisme.fr/en/offers/trinity-abbey-church-tour-vendome-en-2777576/

The Catholic Parrish diocese of Blois on the Trinity Abbey : https://www.catholique-blois.net/vie-pastorale-et-paroisses/paroisses/doyenne-vendomois/paroisses-de-vendome/notre-paroisse/paroisse-trinite-sainte-madeleine-de-vendome/abbatiale-de-la-trinite

There you go folks, a dandy area to explore and enjoy with the family, Memorable moments in my belle France, going all over in my road warrior trails brings out sublime awesome spots with nice memorable family visits of yesteryear always remember and always looking forward to be back, eventually. Again hope you enjoy the post on the Abbaye de la Trinité of Vendôme !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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