Fontgombault Study

The Abbey Church of Our Lady, Fontgombault. (N.D. de Fontgombault)  The community number roughly a hundred and celebrates it's liturgies according to the Classical Roman Rite (Usus Antiquior)

Photo from behind the Choir

The Abbey had lain in ruins after the french revolution until Cistercians returned and made the buildings habitable again in the late 1800's - It was latter settled by Benedictine Monks from Solemnes Abbey in the mid 1950's

From the side door at the westend

Left side of the main west door

Abbey Church and guest wing

The village church of St Jaques (if I recall correctly)

The Abbey from across the river

From accross the river - the old mill house now functions as a hydro-electric generator

An aerial view of the Abbey

Porters Lodge and Monastic shop behind can be seen the guest house

The west end of the Abbey note how a line may be drawn accross the church - the lower part being romanesque and the upper gothic - the slits date from the religious wars

The great western portal

Ordinations conducted by the FSSP some years ago (mid ninties)

A small romanesque chapel rescued by the abbey and rebuild in the grounds