Exploring the History of the Abbey of Savigny-le-Vieux: A Fascinating Journey

On the occasion of the Estivales, an evening was organized at theAbbey of Savigny-le-Vieux (Manche), Saturday July 22, 2023. During this one, a visit of the monument was organized by Marie Anfray, guide at the tourist office of Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët (Manche) . The opportunity to look back on the history of this incredible building.

Founded in 1112

The history of the Abbey begins with the birth of a little boy, Vitalin Tierceville, between Bayeux and Caen towards 1060. After his studies, the young man arrives by a combination of circumstances at the court of the count Robert of Mortain. He is quickly very appreciated for being a thaumaturge, a miracle worker.

Very, too busy, he decides to isolate himself in the village of Neufbourg. Unfortunately, his fame as a thaumaturge does not allow him to lead his life as a hermit.

He then settles in the forest of Fougeres to find peace. But again, his followers come to solicit him and the forest becomes a very busy place. THE Count of Fougeres, Raoul, does not appreciate all these comings and goings which prevent him from hunting. In order to regain his tranquility, he decides to give Vital land to build an abbey. So Vital de Mortain founded the abbey from Savigny-le-Vieux in 1112.

The largest abbey in the west

The abbey, which was the largest in the west of France, consists of a cloister. This includes a sink (fitted basin that allows you to wash your hands and feet and cook) and a large library.

The refectory, “large dining room”, is a huge room where the monks met in silence. Upstairs was the dormitory which had direct access to the church. It was 80 meters long, 27 meters wide and 22 meters high. Difficult to imagine these gigantic measures among the ruins. Fortunately, there is a model of the whole site, carried out by Mr. Holy Peasa local resident.

Moreover, the localities that surround the site today are valuable indications of the location of the activities that took place there: the Piggery, the Laundry, the Sheepfold. The guide specifies that the information available comes from “the Bernardin plan” archives and data available at the archives of Saint-Lô and the National Library of France.

From abbey to stone quarry

After centuries of occupation, the abbey will be abandoned by the monks after the French Revolution of 1789. It was then sold to a couple from Saint-Hilaire. They use it as stone quarry.

The surrounding houses are made with stones from the abbey. And many parts of the abbey are present in the surrounding towns: the door of the refectory is at the Château des Louvellières in Teilleul, the arcades in the church of Fougerolles-du-Plessis, the altar at the collegiate church of Mortain, the he organ in the cathedral of Coutances, the Obélix is ​​in the village of Savigny. In the church of Savigny, there is the tomb of Saint Vital, the stalls of the choir and the relics of all the saints of Savigny (including Saint Adeline, sister of Vital).

The site, open to visitors, is a place of our heritage, rehabilitated in the 2000s. The evening continued with a performance by young people from the “Sac à dos” theater company in Avranches and a concert.