Saint-Pierre de Sauve Church
SAINT-HIPPOLYTE-DU-FORT , Gard – Cultural heritage
About
It was built on the site of the abbey church of the Benedictines, monks who played an important role in the town’s development in the Middle Ages.
In 1029, Garsinde, widow of Count Roger de Carcassonne and wife of Bernard lord of Anduze and Sauve, founded a priory, a “celle”, subject to the abbey of Saint Guilhem le Désert, and built a church on the site of today’s church.
Legend has it that Bernard d’Anduze asked for the monastery to be dedicated to St. Peter, so that he could open the gates of paradise to him. He must have had many sins to atone for, as he endowed the monastery comfortably. Subsequently, all the lords of Anduze and Sauve continued to endow the monastery through inheritance.
In 1267, Pope Clement VI emancipated the monastery, placing it under his direct jurisdiction and giving it the rank of abbey (the abbot had the right to wear the mitre). The abbey was very wealthy, with around 50 monks, and it bailed out the Pope’s coffers 4 times without losing any of its own.
The abbey occupied the site of today’s town hall, church, Place Jean Astruc and Place Sivel. The area was probably enclosed by a small wall, of which the Môle tower is the main vestige. The Place Jean Astruc was occupied by the cemetery and an area reserved for agriculture, the “aire”. The church was probably located in the center of the enclosure, probably on the exact site of today’s church. Opposite its entrance may have been the monastery gate, in line with the market square and the clock tower.
Spoken languages : French
Get there by liO Car or city bus
A moins de 10 mn à pieds de l’arrêt SAINT-HIPPOLYTE-DU-FORT – Casernes !
Cet arrêt est situé sur les lignes : LE VIGAN – ALES (142)
LE VIGAN – NIMES (140)
POMPIGNAN – SAINT-HIPPOLYTE DU FORT (103)
Environ 5 min (497 m).
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