The canonry of Saint-Pierre d’Airvault is believed to have been founded around the year 991 by Viscountess Audéarde (c. 950–1010), widow of Herbert I († c. 987), Viscount of Thouars. At that time, the house was also endowed and intended to be occupied by canons. However, the first regular community did not arrive until the early 11th century.
In 1096, the bishop of Poitiers regularised the situation of Saint-Pierre and appointed its first abbot, Pierre de Sainte-Fontaine († 1110), who came from the canonry of Saint-Pierre de Lesterps (Charente), while establishing that it should follow the Rule of Saint Augustine. In the year 1100, the church was consecrated, and around that time Airvault was involved in the introduction of regular canons to the abbey of Toussaint in Angers (Maine-et-Loire), a sign that this house had gained strength and recognition. In the 12th century, popes Paschal II and Innocent II placed the abbey under the protection of the Holy See.
After suffering damage during the Hundred Years’ War, the monastic structures required repair. From 1477 onwards, the abbey was governed by commendatory abbots, whose presence became permanent from 1546. In 1569, the monastic buildings were destroyed during the Wars of Religion, and the community survived in precarious conditions. The abbey was formally suppressed in 1768, although the community of canons—then secular—was not dissolved until the French Revolution, in 1791. From 1802, the church became a parish.
Narthex
The church of the former abbey is a three-aisled building with a transept, preceded by a narthex that has a chapel attached to its southern side. The presbytery has an ambulatory with three radial chapels. The present building reflects the reconstruction efforts following the Wars of Religion, during which the abbey lost its cloister, which were never rebuilt, and annexes. After the Revolution, the church was gradually restored in its new role as a parish. It was not until the last quarter of the 20th century that some monastic spaces were recovered.
Narthex
Narthex
Tomb of the first abbot, Pierre de Sainte-Fontaine († 1110)
Published in Recherches sur Airvau, son château et son abbaye
Illustration from Monumens religieux, militaires et civils du Poitou (1843)
- ARNAULD, Charles (1843). Deux-Sèvres. Première série : monumens religieux, militaires et civils du Poitou. Niort: Robin
- BAUDRILLART, Alfred (1909). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques. Vol. 1. París: Letouzey et Ané
- BEAUCHET-FILLEAU, Henri (1859). Recherches sur Airvau, son château et son abbaye. Mémoires de la Société des Antiquaires de l’Ouest. Poitiers / Paris
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Auch, Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- FILLION, Bénédicte; i altres (2004). Airvault, ancienne abbatiale Saint-Pierre. Congrès archéologique de France, 159e session, 2001, Deux-Sèvres. Société française d’archéologie
- MARTIN, Gabriel (1911). Ordinaire de l'abbaye Saint-Pierre d'Airvault : XIVe – XVIe siècles. Archives historiques du Poitou, 40
- OURSEL, Raymond (1984). Haut-Poitou roman. La nuit des temps, 42. Zodiaque
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1720). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 2. París: Typographia Regia
Airvault is located north of Parthenay, between that town and Thouars