Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu

The Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu is a Cistercian monastery located near the town of Romont in the Swiss Canton of Fribourg. Founded as a Benedictine priory in 1268,[5] and continuously occupied by a community of nuns since its establishment, the alpine abbey is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.[6] Heavily altered through its history, Fille-Dieu was restructured by economic turmoil, fire, additions and unsympathetic alterations.[7] In 1906 the abbey became affiliated with the Trappists, and between 1990 and 1996 an internationally notable restoration was undertaken, modernising the monastic buildings, restoring the abbey church to its original volume, and preserving its rediscovered medieval murals, with the only contemporary element a suite of stained glass windows commissioned from the British artist Brian Clarke.[8][9] Further restoration of the abbey continues today.

Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu
Abtei de La Fille-Dieu
The 14th century sanctuary and west window of the restored Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu
Location within Canton of Fribourg
Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu (Switzerland)
Monastery information
Full nameAbbaye Notre Dame de la Fille-Dieu
Other namesMonastery Church Romont[1]
OrderCistercian
Established1268[2]
DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg
People
Founder(s)Jean de Cossonay, Bishop of Lausanne
AbbessSœur Marie-Claire Pauchard[3]
Important associated figuresSaint Marguerite Bays[4]
Architecture
Heritage designationclass A Swiss cultural property of national significance
ArchitectTomas Mikulas (restoration)
Site
LocationRomont, Fribourg Canton, Switzerland
Coordinates46°42′04″N 6°55′40″E
Websitehttps://fille-dieu.ch

Early history

In 1268, the Bishop of Lausanne, Jean de Cossonay, visited a small community of women who, in 1265, had founded a house of prayer near Romont.[10] He authorised Juliette, Pernette and Cécile de Villa to erect a monastery on the site and gave it the name 'Fille-Dieu'.

Modern history

In 1906, the abbey joined the Cistercian Order of Strict Observance,[11] colloquially known as Trappists.

Stained glass

In 2009, the oculus window of the abbey church was destroyed in a hailstorm.[12] The artist had been dissatisfied with the 1996 resolution of the window, and this "sign of God" presented an opportunity to design and fabricate a replacement, for which he was commissioned.[13] The new window was inaugurated and blessed in 2010,[14] and the design for the window was presented to the Swiss National Museum of Stained Glass in Romont.[12]

Further reading
  • Liturgie Et Musique a l'Abbaye Cistercienne Notre-Dame de la Fille-Dieu: Histoire Et Catalogue Des Sources de Sept Siecles de Vie Chorale: Aschendorff Verlag, 2015. ISBN 978-3402136300.
  • Les Vitraux de la Fille-Dieu de Brian Clarke/Die Glasgemälde der Fille-Dieu Von Brian Clarke: Benteli Editions, 1997. L'abbaye cistercienne de la Fille-Dieu a Romont/Le Musee Suisse de Vitrail a Romont. ISBN 978-3716510865.

References
  1. "Notre-Dame (Romont, Canton of Friborg)". Catalogue of the German National Library. Deutsche Nationalbibliothek. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  2. Scarcez, Alicia (2015). Liturgie Et Musique a l'Abbaye Cistercienne Notre-Dame de la Fille-Dieu: Histoire Et Catalogue Des Sources de Sept Siecles de Vie Chorale. Aschendorff Verlag. ISBN 978-3402136300.
  3. Bulliard, Éric (16 Oct 2018). "Portes ouvertes sur un monde de silence et de solitude". La Gruyère: la journal la de sud fribourgeois. La Gruyère Médias SA. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. "Pilgrimages: Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu". Sainte Marguerite Bays. Maison de Marguerite. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. Schmid, Alfred (2002). "Restauration, rénovation, reconstruction? La résurrection du monastère cistercien de la Fille-Dieu à Romont". Preparatory Architectural Investigation in the Restoration of Historical Buildings. Leuven University Press. p. 197.
  6. "Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance". A-Objects. Federal Office for Cultural Protection (BABS). 1 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  7. Oberson, Josette (June 2013). "Les Vitraux de Brian Clarke a l'Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu de Romont" (PDF). pp. 1–9. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  8. "Abbey church La Fille-Dieu". Fribourg Region. Union fribourgeoise du Tourisme Etat de Fribourg. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  9. L'abbaye cistercienne de la Fille-Dieu a Romont (1997). Le Musee Suisse de Vitrail a Romont/editor=Trümpler, Stefan (ed.). Les Vitraux de la Fille-Dieu de Brian Clarke/Die Glasgemälde der Fille-Dieu Von Brian Clarke. Benteli.
  10. "Fille-Dieu". Records of the Order of Cistercians of Strict Observance. Ordre Cistercien de la Stricte Observance. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  11. Utz Tremp, Kathrin (29 November 2005). "La Fille-Dieu". Historisches Lexicon der Schweiz (in German). Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  12. Sanchez, Stéphane (24 December 2009). "Il a fait rimer vitrail et trouvailles". La Liberté (in French). iomedia. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  13. Pugin, Patrick (26 April 2010). "Un vitrail détruit par la grêle à remplacer". La Liberté. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  14. Sterchi, Jacques (20 November 2010). "Clarke, à la vie, à la mort". La Liberté. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
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