The famous medieval author François Rabelais was born east of Touraine, in Chinonais. An existence which has left traces even in the name of his country of Cocagne since the territory is today called Rabelaisie. His work is also largely imbued with the region: his birthplace, the places of his childhood… To return to the beginning, we must remember that François’ father, named Antoine Rabelais, is a lawyer at the royal seat of Chinon and is also seneschal of Lerné. He is therefore a notable who is also the owner of several properties including the “house in the fields” that is La Devinière, located in Seuilly, where François was able to spend his early childhood years. “The house was transformed into a “maternity ward” during the births of his eldest children, two brothers and a sister. Tradition has it that Rabelais was also born in this house (the dates of 1483 or 1494 are mentioned). This place seems to have marked the writer to the point of making his famous giant Gargantua evolve in the same green setting. indicates the Rabelais Museum. Subsequently, he did not return to La Devinière which remained a family property until the middle of the 17th.e century. Today it houses the only museum dedicated to the humanist author.
He was also a monk and a doctor
Indeed, François Rabelais left Touraine in 1510 to gain new knowledge and discover the world beyond the tufa walls. He then became a monk, not far from his home in Angers and Poitou. Then, he will go to the south of France, to Montpellier, to study medicine. “It was in Lyon, while he was a doctor at the city’s Hôtel-Dieu, that he wrote his first two novels Pantagruel (1532) and Gargantua (1534), censored and condemned by the theologians of the Sorbonne. . He knew how to secure the protection of the great people of the Kingdom, including bishops and high dignitaries: Geoffroy d’Estissac, Jean du Bellay (cardinal of Paris), his brother Guillaume du Bellay (governor of Piedmont). Moreover, he made numerous trips to Italy under the protection of the du Bellays., continues the museum dedicated to the author. Published during his lifetime, the “Third Book” and the “Quarter Book” continue the adventures of his giants. The Fifth Book appeared after his death which occurred in 1553 in Paris. Rabelais is one of the most learned men of his century. Monk, great scholar, translator, he practiced botany, astronomy, medicine and had numerous scientific texts published.
Sources :
– https://www.musee-rabelais.fr
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2023-11-12 09:18:16
#Local #history #Rabelais #Chinonais #Saumur #Kiosk
