I bring you back to impressive Hennebont as been a fortified city. The town is only 24 km from my house, and by now we have come here several times. In my new road warrior rides in my beautiful Morbihan, I again found me an older picture in one of my cd rom vault and of course should be in my blog for you and me, Therefore,here is my take on the former abbaye Notre Dame de la Joie of Hennebont !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The former abbaye Notre-Dame-de-Joye abbey is a former Cistercian abbey on the territory of Hennebont. It was relocated and founded in 1953 in Campénéac,(see post) to continue the tradition. Today , the former abbey buildings are owned by the city of Hennebont.
The initial Abbaye of Notre-Dame-de-Joye was founded on October 5, 1275 by Blanche de Champagne, wife of Jean Ier Le Roux, Duke of Brittany and mother of Jean II, Duke of Brittany. The abbey was ravaged by a fire in 1512. It was rebuilt in 1693, Buildings of the 17C remain, such as the gateway, the abbey house and an operating building. These buildings are completed by a wing in the south, in the 19C. During the French revolution, following the expulsion of the last abbess and the nuns in October 1792, the abbey church was delivered to the carriers. In the years 1835, an iron factory settled in the remaining buildings. The dismantling of this factory leaves in place only the Maison des Confesseurs or house of confessors, the abbey home and an operating building. The whole became around 1840 a private property.
At the end of the 17C, the Abbess Suzanne de Plœuc built a new building: the abbey home. From this building, carrying in different places the date of 1693, there remain two bodies of buildings forming a “L”. The third consists of a chapel built after 1840. The private garden of the abbess was established west of the whole. In 1856, the national stud farms settled on the upper plateau above the Abbey site. In 1920, the stud farm (Haras National -see post), that recovered the site set up horse boxes on the ground floor, in the fabrics of the abbey house. It houses her palefreniers on the floors and in the house of confessors.
It was from this time that the name “Porterie” given at the Maison des Confessors dates. This small pavilion rebuilt in 1699, as evidenced by the date engraved on the pediment of one of the skylights, was originally the place of residence of the priests in charge of the divine office for nuns. With the Blavet channel, the installation of the factory and subsequently the transformation into a private residence, the pavilion becomes one of the entries and therefore takes the name of Porterie. The Maison des Confesseurs, acquired and restored by the City of Hennebont, has become a place of artist residence, welcoming visual artists, writers, dramatic authors, etc., as part of cultural projects initiated by the city.
The town of Hennebont on its heritage (see maison des Confesseurs): https://www.hennebont.bzh/decouvrir-hennebont/patrimoine/decouvrir-hennebont-au-fil/hennebont-au-fil-du-sacre/
The local Lorient South Brittany tourist office on Hennebont: https://www.lorientbretagnesudtourisme.fr/fr/immanquables/hennebont/
The Morbihan dept 56 Tourist office on Hennebont: https://morbihan.com/decouvrir/le-morbihan-et-ses-perles-bretonnes/destination-lorient-bretagne-sud/hennebont/
The Brittany region tourist office on Hennebont: https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/southern-brittany-morbihan-gulf/hennebont/
There you go folks, a wonderful town of Hennebont and an even beautiful and great former abbey. Indeed worth a detour and see my other posts on nice Hennebont. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the former abbaye Notre Dame de la Joie of Hennebont !!! as I,
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 