Solesmes Abbey

This relic, being a piece from the crown of thorns was given to the brothers at Solesmes for safekeeping and veneration and drew crowds.

Prior Philibert de la Croix changed its plan from the basilica form to a Latin cross.

His successor, Jean Bougler (1505–1556), completed the restoration of the church, added the tower, and rebuilt the cloisters, sacristy, and library.

However, in 1664, the monastery was aggregated to the Congregation of Saint Maur (the Maurists) and a stricter monastic observance was resumed.

[7] Following the French Revolution, the newly formed National Constituent Assembly prohibited all religious vows on 13 February 1790.

Solesmes, whose occupants had been forced out in March 1791, was then commandeered as the country residence of a certain Henri Lenoir Chantelou and its archives were burned in a "civic" bonfire on 14 July 1794.

The church was reopened at the time of the Concordat and the Lenoir de Chantelou family were given statues by Napoleon himself so that those at Mans were not removed.

In 1831 the remaining buildings, which had escaped demolition in the Revolution but were threatened with destruction for want of a buyer, came to the attention of a locally born priest, Prosper Guéranger.

The abbey is noted for its contribution to the advancement of the Roman Catholic liturgy and the revival of Gregorian chant.

This statue was created in the 15th century and displays Saint Peter wearing pontifical vestments, a papal tiara, and holding two large keys.

The smallest of the two, being the guesthouse terrace gardens surrounds a small house coated in coarse pink plaster.

This area, as well as the adjacent slope (informally referred to as "the valley" by members of the congregation) is accessible by retreaters for meditation and reflection.

The enclosure is defined by the brothers at Solesmes as:[12] The area delimited by a wall that includes the monastery buildings and adjoining garden and is reserved for monks.

Enclosure helps devote us to searching for God alone by separating us from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.This area, while generally restricted to members of the congregation at Solesmes, may be visited by guests, with permission.

In addition, any records of who financed the creation of the Saints of Solesmes was lost with the destruction of the monastery's archives as well.

However, the Solesmes monastery did not change or sway from its role as a focal point of the Rule of Saint Benedict in France.

At Solesmes, as in any other monastery that abides by the Rule of Saint Benedict, physical labor is an integral part of Benedictine Life.

... Manual labor has the benefit of physically sustaining the community, making the monastic life possible.Throughout the history of Solesmes, importance has been given to the practice and use of Gregorian chant.

The Abbey Church at Solesmes is open to the public for worship from 9:00 am (9:30 am on Sundays and Feast Days) to 6:15 pm.

There are small houses operated by the monastery located in Solesmes village, which is very near the abbey available for rent.