Chantelle and the eternal fire

In the 5th century, a small chapel already existed in Chantelle. But the abbey history really began in 936. A lord called Ainaud and his wife Rothilde founded a monastery next to the old church of Saint-Vincent.

This generous couple was afraid of the "eternal fire": by raising an abbey, they would surely go to heaven...

The monastery is located on a rocky spur overlooking river Bouble, raised in the middle of the former dukes of Bourbon's castle (Richelieu ordered its demolition in 1527).

The Romanesque church dates back to the 12th century, put up in a typically style from Auvergne. Did you know Benedictine friars, who lived here in the 19th century, transformed our abbey into a cellar?

Buildings' state was appalling... to such a point that the architect who restored the monastery decided to demolish the choir and transept! Fortunately, the abbot objected to it...