By Anne-Sophie Hourdeaux
Published on 5 Apr 21 at 10:15
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The North Department bought theVaucelles abbey, near Cambrai (North), in 2017. It presents an unpublished work “Vaucelles, Chronicles of a Cistercian abbey (12th-21st centuries)”. nearly 900 years of history, with 200 illustrations and unpublished historical data. No book on the abbey built in 1132 had gone so far.
A first
The work is unpublished. No book on the history of the abbey of Vaucelles had been published until then.
The whole was managed by Jean-Marie Duhamel, doctor in modern history at the University of Lille, in charge of mission at the Department of the North.
He surrounded himself with researchers, art historians, architects, archaeologists, specialists in archives, scriptures, natural spaces, not to mention the photographer Philippe Houzé.
This collective book of nearly 300 color pages invites readers to immerse themselves in the past grandeur of the Cistercian abbey of Vaucelles, classified as a historic monument.
–Through 200 illustrations and sometimes unpublished historical data, the book invites you to travel back in time.
Since 1132
Since its founding by Bernard de Clairvaux in 1132, the abbey has enjoyed great prosperity for 200 years before suffering destruction, desecration and fires.
Vaucelles comes from the Latin “Vallis cellae, the monastery of the Valley”. Established on 7 hectares, it had up to 140 monks and 300 lay brothers (brothers in charge of manual work). The monastic presence lasts from 1132 to 1790 and ends with the Revolution. Purchased in 1898 by a notable Parisian, Henri Fontana, the place gradually fell into ruins.
–The memory of Vaucelles was also damaged by the bombings of the Second World War on Cambrai, which destroyed a large part of the library’s collections, including the works of the abbey.
Salvation arrives in 1971
Salvation arrives in 1971 through a couple of enthusiasts, Marie-Maxellende and Alain Lagoutte. Step by step, they began work and reopened the building to the public in the 1980s for festive events, in particular concerts.
–A titanic undertaking which made Jean-René Lecerf, president of the Department of the North, say that the places owe their survival to the benefactors of humanity ”.
Since 2017, the Department has owned the abbey, for 1.9 million euros. “The acquisition cost bothered me, it does not represent the sums invested by the Lagoutte family. The Musverre cost us 15 million euros! », Confides Jean-René Lecerf.
–The book lifts the veil on an unknown building. The team started with very few documents, as Jean-Marie Duhamel recalls. “For the images of the abbey in the past, we only had two engravings, one from the 14th century and one from the 18th century! “
Forgotten anecdotes
Among the anecdotes forgotten until then, we can cite the links between the founders of the abbey and the crusade against the Cathars. “There were pyres against the Cathar heretics in our region, but not directly in Vaucelles,” explains Jean-Marie Duhamel. Witchcraft trials were also conducted not far from the place.
At the end of the 12th century, three feudal families close to the Kings of France were very involved in Vaucelles, so that of Oisy and Montmirail.
“Vaucelles was also a place of diplomatic negotiations in the 16th century. France and Spain notably signed a truce there. It was Admiral Coligny, who was subsequently one of the first victims of Saint Bartholomew, who negotiated with the emissary of Charles V, ”recalls Jean-Marie Duhamel.
We can also discover in images exceptional archival documents, never shown, such as the seal of the 12th century charter, magnificent.
Dominican brother Rémy Vallejo participated in the work. He recalls that it was Bernard de Clairvaux himself who founded the abbey.
He was one of the most important figures of the 12th century, he is considered one of the fathers of the Church. Vaucelles is not just stones, it recalls the words of the monks which still resonate …
–The future
As soon as the health situation allows, the place will reopen, promises Jean-René Lecerf. “We will continue the concerts, and develop the walks around the abbey”. the flagship events, created by the Lagoutte family and which have made the reputation of the place, will return, such as the orchid exhibition and the Christmas festivities.
Work will also continue. The enclosure and cover have already started, then a whole restoration program on the abbey palace will be deployed.
“Vaucelles, Chronicles of a Cistercian abbey (12th-21st centuries)”, 270 pages. Edition invenit / Department of the North. On sale at the abbey and in bookstores. Price: 30 €.
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