[1] The original abbey having been destroyed during the French Revolution, the current monastic community dates from 1853, and belongs to the Solesmes Congregation.

The monks initially lived according to the pattern of the Desert Fathers of Egypt, each in his locaciacum (small hut), this name later evolving to Ligugé.

When, however, Martin became Bishop of Tours and established a monastery at Marmoutier a short distance from that city, the fame of Ligugé declined considerably.

It was revitalized in 1003 by the re-establishment of a shrine to St. Martin, its founder, by Adalemode of Limoges, wife of the Count of Poitiers, William V, Duke of Aquitaine.

The first of the commendatory priors, Geoffrey d'Estissac [fr], a great patron of literature and the friend of Rabelais, built the existing church, a graceful structure but smaller by far than the ancient basilica which it replaced.

This situation continued until the suppression of the Society in 1762, when the site came under the direction of the local bishop, despite the opposition to this by the Benedictines of the Congregation of Saint Maur.

He was a close friend of Prosper Guéranger, the re-founder of the French Benedictine Congregation, and on 19 November 1853 he gave formal approval for the restoration of monastic life at the monastery.

[6] Five days later, a small community of four monks arrived from Solesmes Abbey, led by Abbot Guéranger, and established themselves at Ligugé.

Many of them, under the leadership of Abbot Joseph Bourigaud took refuge at the ancient Abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos in Spain, which they rebuilt and saved from extinction.