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The castle-abbey of Cassan is built upon a site which was a holy place in the IVth Century BC – during the Gallo-Roman period.
Records are sketchy before 1080, when the Alquier family (important aristocrats from Bézier) donated the simple chapel and some land to the clergy who had settled at Cassan because of the decline of the cathedral St Nazaire in Bézier.
The first prior - Pierre Teudald – was the first to develope the monastery, but it became famous under the second prior - Guiraud - (1070-1123). Under his control and, within only ten years the fame and stature of the Abbey was such that many of the regional aristocracy made generous donations which enabled the community to flourish.
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So rich was the Priory that records show it provided livings to 80 canons. It was at this time that the present Abbey church was built in place of the original simple chapel.. In this period the rest of the buildings we associate with a grand Monastery were built - cloisters, Chapter House, dormitories a refectory and a guest house. Sadly none but the Church have survived to this time.
One can understand the importance of the community when one learns that the consecration of the new church was witnessed by six bishops and two archbishops on October 6th, 1115. On this occasion many new relics were placed in the altar which added to the fame of the Abbey. These included one of the four shrouds of Jesus, a relic of the Holy Sepulchre, and another one of Saint Martha. So holy was the place considered that the aristocracy of Béziers and the region were buried at the site. This in turn led to even more generous donations from followers in a total of 76 districts under the influence of the Abbey.
It was the most glorious, influential and rich period in the Abbey’s long history. |
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The XVIII th century marks a turning point for the priory. Pope Innocent III, who was responsible for the albigensian crusade, promulgates an exemption bull for the priory of Cassan. This meant the Abbey was responsible directly to the Holy See in matters of spirituality and not to the Bishop of Béziers. In terms of temporal authority the Priory and its canons owed allegiance directly to “King Louis IX” in an edict dated 1268.
At the same time the priory gets its " Fleur–de–lis " and becomes the Royal Priory of Cassan. The plagues of the 14th century, bubonic and Black death leave their mark on the priory. To protect the community from desease and the dangers of the hundred Years war, the priory was fortified in 1384. At this time the number of Canons living at the Abbey fell by a half to just 40.
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In 1539 and in 1563 the protestant troops of Jacques de Crussol and Claude de Caylus set fire to the priory which destroyed an important part of the records as well as most of the relics.
The decline, which started in the 14th century continued so that at the beginning of the 17th century, less than ten canons live in the monastery.
The priory gets attached to the Sainte Genevieve abbey of Paris in 1671. The prior, Pas de Beaulieu, reconstructs some of the priory in the second half of the 18th century in the fashionable style of the time (1754-1758).
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Few changes are made in the church and so it remains the only original architectural witness to the Romanesque style of the 12th century.
During French revolution the only 5 canons living at the Abbey were driven out and the abbey became the property of the State. In 1790 Merigaux, a lawyer from Pezenas, buys it on behalf of the prince de Conti in order to install his mistress Madame de Brimont.
The former monastery is now called : the Castle of Cassan.
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In 2008, the Castle Abbey of Cassan was opened to the public for visit from April 13th to November 2nd.
To found the redevelopement and restoration of the Abbey the present owner has plans to generate income on the one hand and share the magnificence of the building on the other.
New packages include :
Wedding parties, medieval dinners, seminaries, congresses, events (shows, concerts, conferences, wine tasting, cooking, theatre ...).
With our vision and your support we hope to bring the Abbey back to a restored and useful life.
You are most welcome to visit and share in the excitement of our project.
For more information : see visits.
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| Romanesque capital |
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