Villers-Bettnach Abbey (Latin: Villerium; German: Weiler-Bettnach) is a former Cistercianabbey in the commune of Saint-Hubert in the Moselle department, France. The monastery site is about 22 kilometres north-east of Metz, in the valley of the little River Canner, and was classed as a monument historique on 28 March 1905.
In 1134[1] Heinrich von Spanheim, abbot of Morimond Abbey, founded Villers-Bettnach Abbey on land given for the purpose by Simon I, Duke of Lorraine; Heinrich himself was the first abbot, holding the position together with that at Morimond. The community flourished, and monks from Villers-Bettnach later settled a number of daughter houses: Viktring Abbey in Carinthia (1142);[2]Eusserthal Abbey in the Palatinate (1148); Wörschweiler Abbey in Wörschweiler, now a part of Homburg (1171); Zagreb Abbey (1257 or 1274; but note that Janauschek ascribes the foundation of Zagreb to Topusko Abbey, and others to Viktring Abbey); and Pontifroy Abbey in Metz (1323). Cambron Abbey in Belgium is occasionally claimed as a daughter house of Villers-Bettnach, but this seems doubtful.
In 1552 the monastery was laid waste. Between 1724 and 1729 a new church was built. The French Revolution caused the dissolution of the monastery in 1790, and the abbey buildings and site were turned over to agricultural uses. Those buildings that survived were later acquired by the town of Boulay-Moselle (Bolchen), which built a convalescent home there. The site is now looked after by the Association des Amis des Sites de St-Hubert.
Buildings and siteedit
The cloister was sited to the north of the church. The monumental gateway arch of the 17th century (the Portail Coislin) survives, as do numerous remains of the 13th century church, a vaulted hall church of six bays with a transept and a polygonal apse, and a Chapel of St. Catherine with bifora windows, which stands over a building of the 12th century. Another survival is the 17th century Peasants' Chapel (German: Bauernkapelle; French: Chapelle des Humbles), which is now used as a parish church. The conventual buildings were somewhere to the left of the church.
Kilbertus, G. (2001): Villers-Bettnach - L’Abbaye. Talange: Self-published.
Maguin, J., and Villard, Y. (2001): L’abbaye de Villers-Bettnach. Guidebook on sale at the abbey.
Peugniez, Bernard (2002): Routier cistercien, p 236. Moisenay: Editions Gaud. ISBN978-2-84080-044-6
Philips, Jean-Paul (207): Patrimoine rural en Pays messin. Éditions Serpenoise.
Trapp, Thomas (1996): Die Zisterzienserabtei Weiler-Bettnach im Hoch- und Spätmittelalter. Saarbrücken: Saarbrücker Druckerei und Verlag. ISBN3-930843-13-7. (= Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für Saarländische Landesgeschichte und Volksforschung, Band 27)
Volkelt, P., Van Hees, H. (1983): Reclams Kunstführer Frankreich, Band III, p 382. Stuttgart: Reclam. ISBN3-15-010319-3
villers, bettnach, abbey, latin, villerium, german, weiler, bettnach, former, cistercian, abbey, commune, saint, hubert, moselle, department, france, monastery, site, about, kilometres, north, east, metz, valley, little, river, canner, classed, monument, histo. Villers Bettnach Abbey Latin Villerium German Weiler Bettnach is a former Cistercian abbey in the commune of Saint Hubert in the Moselle department France The monastery site is about 22 kilometres north east of Metz in the valley of the little River Canner and was classed as a monument historique on 28 March 1905 Gateway to the abbey the Portail Coislin Contents 1 History 2 Buildings and site 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory editIn 1134 1 Heinrich von Spanheim abbot of Morimond Abbey founded Villers Bettnach Abbey on land given for the purpose by Simon I Duke of Lorraine Heinrich himself was the first abbot holding the position together with that at Morimond The community flourished and monks from Villers Bettnach later settled a number of daughter houses Viktring Abbey in Carinthia 1142 2 Eusserthal Abbey in the Palatinate 1148 Worschweiler Abbey in Worschweiler now a part of Homburg 1171 Zagreb Abbey 1257 or 1274 but note that Janauschek ascribes the foundation of Zagreb to Topusko Abbey and others to Viktring Abbey and Pontifroy Abbey in Metz 1323 Cambron Abbey in Belgium is occasionally claimed as a daughter house of Villers Bettnach but this seems doubtful Among other properties Villers Bettnach owned a grange with salt pans in Marsal and townhouses in Metz and Sierck les Bains In 1552 the monastery was laid waste Between 1724 and 1729 a new church was built The French Revolution caused the dissolution of the monastery in 1790 and the abbey buildings and site were turned over to agricultural uses Those buildings that survived were later acquired by the town of Boulay Moselle Bolchen which built a convalescent home there The site is now looked after by the Association des Amis des Sites de St Hubert Buildings and site editThe cloister was sited to the north of the church The monumental gateway arch of the 17th century the Portail Coislin survives as do numerous remains of the 13th century church a vaulted hall church of six bays with a transept and a polygonal apse and a Chapel of St Catherine with bifora windows which stands over a building of the 12th century Another survival is the 17th century Peasants Chapel German Bauernkapelle French Chapelle des Humbles which is now used as a parish church The conventual buildings were somewhere to the left of the church References edit or possibly 1130 which in its turn was the mother house of Landstrass Abbey now Kostanjevica in SloveniaBibliography editDosse C 1989 La Haute Vallee de la Canner L abbaye de Villers Bettnach Editions Serpenoise Hotz W 1976 Handbuch der Kunstdenkmaler im Elsass und in Lothringen p 307 Munich and Berlin Deutscher Kunstverlag ISBN 3 422 00345 2 Kilbertus G 2001 Villers Bettnach L Abbaye Talange Self published Maguin J and Villard Y 2001 L abbaye de Villers Bettnach Guidebook on sale at the abbey Peugniez Bernard 2002 Routier cistercien p 236 Moisenay Editions Gaud ISBN 978 2 84080 044 6 Philips Jean Paul 207 Patrimoine rural en Pays messin Editions Serpenoise Trapp Thomas 1996 Die Zisterzienserabtei Weiler Bettnach im Hoch und Spatmittelalter Saarbrucken Saarbrucker Druckerei und Verlag ISBN 3 930843 13 7 Veroffentlichungen der Kommission fur Saarlandische Landesgeschichte und Volksforschung Band 27 Volkelt P Van Hees H 1983 Reclams Kunstfuhrer Frankreich Band III p 382 Stuttgart Reclam ISBN 3 15 010319 3External links editWebsite of the Association des Amis des sites de Saint Hubert history of the monastery with illustrations and a plan of the site in the 18th century in French 49 14 N 6 22 E 49 233 N 6 367 E 49 233 6 367 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Villers Bettnach Abbey amp oldid 1058132126, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
