2015-09-05-2008-2001 Abbaye de Saint-Amant-de-Boixe Charente, Poitou Charentes

The abbey of Saint-Amant de Boixe is a former Benedictine abbey located in Saint-Amant-de-Boixe in Charente
The abbey was located on the way to Saint-Jacques passing by in Charente Nanteuil-en-Vallée, Tusson, Montignac, Angoulême, Mouthiers, Puypéroux, Aubeterre. Pilgrims and the poor were welcomed in a chaplaincy or house of the poor, building north of the town outside the monastic enclosure and held in the thirteenth century by women in the service of the abbey.
The abbey church
It was built in small, medium and large device with local materials, stone lower Kimmeridgian size, on a slope. The building, in its current state, has a nave of six bays, barrel-vaulted and flanked by two aisles, a transept topped by a square tower which includes a cupola on drum, two cross one of which, that of north, is still lined with two apses, and finally a large choir of three bays, arched ribs, strong off-axis and terminated by a flat bed.
The set dates from the twelfth century; the choir itself dates from the fifteenth century and retains older parts. These remains are used to restore the original plan beyond the transept crossing: the chorus, ending in a semicircular apse was flanked by four chapels, including the two largest were preceded by a rectangular span.
The monastic buildings
The abbey still has many buildings testifying to its past splendor.

Romanesque architecture space
Created at the initiative of the municipality and with the help of the Poitou-Charentes region, Romanesque Space was inaugurated on September 19, 2008. This cultural space in the heart of the convent buildings, a permanent exhibition to apprehend Romanesque architecture and its context and history of the abbey. Models, interactive terminals, panels, illustrations, archaeological and games invite you to discover the history of romanes stones. The site receives 12,000 visitors per year3. The topics covered.