France 2012
Although we didn't get a cruise this year, we did take time out from working on the boat to explore the area around St Quentin.
Prémontré Abbaye
Aerial view giving some idea of the scale of the site
One of our first 'away days' was spent at Prémontré as MWNN wanted to see Prémontré Abbey, the mother house of the Premonstratensian Order. I forgot to take my camera so have raided the web for these images.
Of the old abbey as it was from the 12th to the 16th centuries hardly
anything remains, but three large buildings of the 17th and 18th
centuries are still standing, part of one of which is used as a church,
dedicated to Saint Norbert.
Since 1867, the main buildings have been used as a psychiatric hospital. There are no 'inmates' any more , just staff of the Centre Hospitalier de Prémontré. We were unable to see inside any of the buildings as it was Sunday and no one (apart from one 'patient' with attached medical attendant) was there.
It was easy to get some idea of the scale of the Abbey as it was in the 12th century, as the approach is around the outer wall. The remains are the size of a village set amid the vast acres belonging to the Commune of Prémontré.
Prémontré Abbaye
Aerial view giving some idea of the scale of the site
One of our first 'away days' was spent at Prémontré as MWNN wanted to see Prémontré Abbey, the mother house of the Premonstratensian Order. I forgot to take my camera so have raided the web for these images.
Of the old abbey as it was from the 12th to the 16th centuries hardly
anything remains, but three large buildings of the 17th and 18th
centuries are still standing, part of one of which is used as a church,
dedicated to Saint Norbert.
Since 1867, the main buildings have been used as a psychiatric hospital. There are no 'inmates' any more , just staff of the Centre Hospitalier de Prémontré. We were unable to see inside any of the buildings as it was Sunday and no one (apart from one 'patient' with attached medical attendant) was there.
It was easy to get some idea of the scale of the Abbey as it was in the 12th century, as the approach is around the outer wall. The remains are the size of a village set amid the vast acres belonging to the Commune of Prémontré.