The Abbey of Saint-Savin-en-Lavedan (; or Santi Savini LevitanensisBenjamin Guérard, Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Victor de Marseille, Volume 2, Lahure, 1857, Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Victor de Marseille – Benjamin Guérard, M. GUERARD – Google Livres) was a Benedictine abbey in the commune of Saint-Savin, Hautes-Pyrénées, France. It was one of the most important religious centres in the County of Bigorre. The Romanesque abbey church remains, in use since 1790 as a parish church. It has been listed since 1840 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture. Eglise Saint-Savin
History
The abbey dates at least from the 10th century, and it was built by order of Charlemagne on the site of an ancient Gallo-Roman fortress called Palatium Æmilianum ("Palace of Emilianus").Bulletin monumental, ou, Recueil de documents et de mémoires relatifs aux différentes branches de l'archéologie, Volume 18, Société française d'archéologie, Musée des monuments français, 1852, books.google.fr
From no later than the time of the Congregation of St. Maur, the abbey possessed a coat of arms.Gustave Bascle de Lagrèze, Monographie de Saint-Savin de Lavedan, p.94.
According to Pulci's poem Il Morgante maggiore, Roland, protagonist of the Chanson de Roland was in the abbey at some point.Pierre Laboulinière, Itinéraire descriptif et pittoresque des Hautes-Pyrénées franç, Volume 2, Itinéraire descriptif et pittor. des Hautes-Pyrénées franç – Pierre Laboulinière – Google Livres
In 841, the abbey was looted and burnt by the Normans, and previously by the Saracens.J.M. Besse, « Archives de la France monastique », tome III, 1910, consultable https://archive.org/stream/archivesdelafran10abbauoft#page/80/mode/2up/search/Savin
In 945, Count Raymond I of Bigorre gave the abbey a generous endowment consisting of a territory known as thePascal de Saint-Savin , which was made of the eight villages of Saint-Savin (Sen Sabi), Castet, Lau (Laou), Balagnas, Adast (Adas), Nestalas, Soulom and Uz; the church of Saint-Jean-de-Saint-Savin became their communal church.
In 1080 the abbey was united to the Abbey of St. Victor, Marseille.
In 1130 Bernard d'Arcizas and Centule II, Count of Bigorre, confronted the abbot and the inhabitants of the Val d'Azun over a burial.François-Alexandre Aubert de La Chesnaye-Desbois, Badier, Dictionnaire de la noblesse, contenant les généalogies, l'histoire..., Volume 1 Dictionnaire de la noblesse, contenant les généalogies, l'histoire & la ... – François-Alexandre Aubert de La Chesnaye-Desbois, Badier – Google Livres
Queen Marguerite of Navarre (1492–1549) took refuge in the abbey from a flood.
From the thirteenth century, the abbey still controlled the territory of seven villages.
From the 16th century the abbey suffered due to the destruction associated with the French Wars of Religion and relaxed its discipline, although there were attempts to restore it in the 17th century by the monks of the Congregation of St. Maur.
Only three monks remained living in the abbey in 1790. In the following year, the church and the monastic buildings were converted for the use of the parish. Part of the abbey was sold for a stone quarry and the chapter house became a stable. In 1854, a strong earthquake caused further destructions. Prosper Mérimée took charge of its restoration in 1855.
Goods and tithes The House of Arcizac, or d'Arcizas from Arcizans-Dessus or Arcizans-Avant, played a key part in the enrichment of the abbey.
In 1083 Raymond-Arnaud d'Arcizas and Raymond de Vieusac witnessed the gift of the tithes of Azos by Arnaud de Tors.
In 1130 Pierre de Silhen and his sons gave the tithes of the church of Silhen to the abbey.
In 1157 Arnaud d'Arcizas witnessed the gift made by Gailliarde d'Orout of lands in Uz to the abbey.
Abbots
The list of abbots begins in 945 with Eneco d'Ygnigue, or possibly with Bernard I d'Escors in 940. A list is given at Gallica.Revue d'Aquitaine: journal historique de Guienne, Gascogne, Béarn, Navarre, etc, Volume 11. Published by Revue d'Aquitaine, 1867. Harvard UniversityFor a more complete listing see chapter 4 of p.65ss.|Gustave Bascle de Lagrèze's Monographie de Saint-Savin de Lavedan
Organ The abbey church houses an organ first built by an unknown builder in 1557, during the time of abbot François de Foix Candale. The organ was rebuilt by Antoine Riballier in 1618, but was abandoned during the French Revolution, and robbed of its pipework. In 1994 the regional arts body decided to restore the instrument to its original state. The restored organ has sideways-moving stop levers rather than conventional knobs, and eight ranks of pipes (including a régale with bamboo resonators), the Montre being divided into treble and bass. The keyboard compass is from F1 to A4, 38 notes, lacking the bottom F#, G# and top G#. The pitch is lower than modern concert pitch, at A = 365 Hz, and the organ is tuned in mean-tone temperament. The case of the organ is historically interesting for its paintings, carvings and ornaments, which include three masks with mechanical eyes and jaws, moveable by the organist.
Gallery
Contact details Abbatiale de Saint-Savin, 9 place du Castet, 65400 Saint-Savin-en-Lavedan (tel: 05.62.97.02.23)
Bibliography Europeana database, Charles Durier (1854–1887): Cartulaire de l'abbaye des bénédictins de Saint-Savin en Lavedan.Cartulaire de l'abbaye des bénédictins de Saint-Savin en Lavedan Sur Gallica en licence domaine Public.Cartulaire de l'abbaye des bénédictins de Saint-Savin en Lavedan (945–1175) / publ. par Charles Durier,... Gustave Bascle de Lagrèze, Monographie de Saint-Savin de Lavedan, Paris 1850.
References
External links Official website of the Church of Saint-Savin Official website of Saint Savin, including information on the abbey Recording of the historic organ of the abbey by Sietze de Vries