Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Vienne

The church of Saint-Pierre is of very ancient origin, but its history remains obscure due to the scarcity of documentation. A first church was erected over a Roman necropolis; this construction has been associated with Saint Léonien († c. 518) and with an early monastery founded on this site. This figure, connected with Saint Eugend and the Fathers of the Jura, is said to have moved to Vienne in search of a place of retreat. There he would have founded the female monastery of Saint-André-le-Haut and another, for men, traditionally identified with this house, although it may in fact have been that of Saint-Marcel.

In 926, Hugh of Arles († 947) intervened in its restoration and, by the mid-10th century, the first known abbot, Adelelmus, is mentioned. By the end of that century, the monks of Saint-Pierre are recorded as following the Rule of Saint Benedict. The abbey later experienced a period of prosperity and, during the 12th century, important building works were undertaken, supported by its sound financial position; the bell tower was erected at that time. Thereafter a decline set in, although works and alterations continued to be carried out until the 16th century.

The site was sold after the Revolution and used for various purposes before being converted into a lapidary museum. This transformation was accompanied by archaeological studies and excavations that brought to light a considerable number of ancient burials. Despite later alterations, the church still preserves the basilical structure of the original building. At the beginning of the 21st century, archaeological investigations were resumed, now complicated by the numerous previous interventions.