Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire

▪ France

      village, Loiret département, Centre région, north-central France. It lies on the right bank of the Loire River, 25 miles (40 km) east of Orléans. The splendid Romanesque basilica is the only survival of the Benedictine abbey of Fleury, founded about 651. The abbey acquired renown when the relics of St. Benedict were brought there from Montecassino in Italy about 672, and Fleury then became known by its present name. The basilica is entered through a two-storied narthex surmounted by a square belfry, with pillars crowned by Romanesque, Corinthian, and symbolically carved capitals. The choir contains the tomb of Philip I of France (d. 1108). The carved northern portal (early 13th century) has a lintel representing the transfer of St. Benedict's relics to Fleury. The relics are contained within the massive axial pillar of the crypt (1067), below the choir.

      In ancient times, Fleury was reputed to be frequented by the druidic priests of ancient Gaul. The abbey, famous in the Middle Ages for its school and manuscripts, was pillaged by the Huguenots (Protestants) in 1562. It was restored by Cardinal de Richelieu but destroyed in 1760–1800. The abbey church, which was spared, was carefully restored from 1836 to 1923, and the abbey was rebuilt by Benedictine monks after World War II. Pop. (1999) 1,876.

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