Montmerle Charterhouse

Montmerle Charterhouse (French: Chartreuse Notre-Dame de Montmerle du Val-Saint-Étienne, Latin: Mons Merula) is a former charterhouse, or Carthusian monastery, located in Lescheroux, in the arrondissement of Bourg-en-Bresse and the canton of Saint-Trivier-de-Courtes, in the department of Ain, France.

History

Benedictines

The first monastery established here was a Benedictine priory, founded in 1070 by Hugh d'Asnières des Bois. It was subordinate to Seillon Priory, and both were later subordinate to Joug-Dieu Abbey.

Hugh of Colemi (Hugo Coloniacum) in the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted lands to found a grange here exempt from feudal duties, in 1202.[1]

Carthusians

Like Seillon, Montmerle became a Carthusian community in 1210, following a bull issued by Pope Innocent III, the 36th Carthusian foundation.[2]

Montmerle Charterhouse was dissolved in 1792 during the French Revolution, when some of its paintings, including a number by Nicolas-Guy Brenet, were moved to the parish church of Pont-de-Vaux.[3][4]

Present day

The monastery is in ruins, except for the main entrance[5] and the mill.[6]

Sources

References

  1. Note by T. Smith, tr., in Geoffroi de Villehardouin, The Chronicle of Geoffry de Villehardouin: marshal of Champagne and Romania London, 1829 :172f.
  2. Samuel Guichenon, Histoire de Bresse et de Bugey Lyon, 1550:81f.
  3. Dictionnaire géographique universel, 1831, vol. 8, s.v. "Pont-de-Vaux".
  4. Photograph of the surviving entrance of the former charterhouse
  5. Moulins de l'Ain: Montmerle

Coordinates: 46°23′34″N 5°7′34″E / 46.39278°N 5.12611°E / 46.39278; 5.12611


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