Reims. Abbaye Saint-Remi
Many visitors to Reims know the famous cathedral, but few are familiar with the Abbey of Saint-Remi. So you can't find an Wikipedia article in English language. We were no different; it was only this year, during another visit to Reims, that we visited this magnificent structure.
The abbey church was built over the (legendary) tomb of Saint Remigius and served as the burial place for many archbishops and several Frankish or French kings, including Carloman I (d. 771), Louis IV (d. 954), and Lothair (d. 986).
A new abbey church was consecrated by Pope Leo IX in 1049. Following a fire in 1098 that partially destroyed the building, it was further enlarged and embellished in the 12th century under Abbot Odon.
For centuries, the holy oil used to anoint French kings during their coronation was kept in the former royal Abbey of Saint-Remi.
The church's vault was destroyed during the First World War. Reconstruction took 40 years, lasting until 1958.
Today, it houses the municipal historical museum of Reims and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
Reims. Abbaye Saint-Remi
Many visitors to Reims know the famous cathedral, but few are familiar with the Abbey of Saint-Remi. So you can't find an Wikipedia article in English language. We were no different; it was only this year, during another visit to Reims, that we visited this magnificent structure.
The abbey church was built over the (legendary) tomb of Saint Remigius and served as the burial place for many archbishops and several Frankish or French kings, including Carloman I (d. 771), Louis IV (d. 954), and Lothair (d. 986).
A new abbey church was consecrated by Pope Leo IX in 1049. Following a fire in 1098 that partially destroyed the building, it was further enlarged and embellished in the 12th century under Abbot Odon.
For centuries, the holy oil used to anoint French kings during their coronation was kept in the former royal Abbey of Saint-Remi.
The church's vault was destroyed during the First World War. Reconstruction took 40 years, lasting until 1958.
Today, it houses the municipal historical museum of Reims and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.