Abbey of Saint-Gilles de Puypéroux
Abbaye de Puypéroux / Podio Petroso
(Aignes-et-Puypéroux, Charente)
According to tradition, this monastery originated as a hermitage established in the 8th century. Legend has it that some “Benedictine solitaries” settled there, drawn by the tomb of Saint Giles, who is said to have arrived from Provence while fleeing the Saracen invasion. The saint —not to be confused with Saint Giles of Gard— is also credited with founding several churches in the region. A bull issued by Pope Alexander III in 1170 mentions Puypéroux as one of the oldest Benedictine foundations in Gaul.
Beyond the legend, at an unknown date the monks of Puypéroux moved to Blanzac, where they founded the secular canonry of Saint-Barthélémy. The church of Blanzac was consecrated in 1226, and the move left the former settlement as a mere dependency or priory. In addition to the loss of its community, the site also fell into material decline, worsened by a fire during the Hundred Years’ War (14th century). Although it retained some parochial functions, the place was nearly abandoned.
Following the Revolution, Puypéroux was definitively deserted until Michon, editor of the “Statistique monumentale de la Charente”, rediscovered it and promoted its restoration. Around 1840, the community of Notre-Dame des Anges was established there, and work began to restore the former monastic site and its church, whose apse —featuring seven radiating chapels— is particularly noteworthy.
Church floor plan
Illustration from Statistique monumentale de la Charente
Photo by Médéric Mieusement (n.d.)
Ministère de la Culture (France)
Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine
Photo by Médéric Mieusement (n.d.)
Ministère de la Culture (France)
Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine
Old postcard, private collection
- COTTINEAU, Laurent-Henri (1939). Répertoire topo-bibliographique des abbayes et prieurés. Vol. 2. Mâcon: Protat
- DARAS, Charles (1961). Angoumois roman. Zodiaque. La Nuit des Temps, núm. 14
- GABORIT, Michelle (1999). L’abbaye Saint-Gilles de Puypéroux. Congrès archéologique de France, 153 ss. 1995. Société française d'archéologie
- MICHON, Jean Hippolyte (1844). Statistique monumentale de la Charente. París: Derache
- NANGLARD, Jean (1894). Pouillé historique du diocèse d'Angoulême, 3. Bulletin et mémoires de la Société archéologique et historique de la Charente, vol. 4
- TRICOIRE, Gabriel (1912). Les évêques d'Angoulême. Angulema: Despujols
Puypéroux is located in the municipality of Aignes-et-Puypéroux (Charente), south of Angoulême