Champmol, Medieval Carthusian monastery in Dijon, France
Champmol is a monastery complex in Dijon composed of two cloisters, a church, individual cottages, and a private chapel built in Gothic style. The buildings sit at the city's edge and show the architectural sophistication of medieval monastic design.
Duke Philip the Bold founded this site in 1383 as a burial place for Burgundy's ruling family. Construction began after the land was acquired in 1377, reflecting the accumulation of power and wealth in medieval times.
The Well of Moses displays monumental carved figures of Old Testament prophets created by sculptor Claus Sluter between 1395 and 1403. These sculptures stand in the courtyard and reflect the spiritual focus of monastic life here.
The original buildings now house a psychiatric hospital, while many artworks have been moved to the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon. Visitors can view the exterior and see the sculpted courtyard, though interior access is limited.
Twenty-four choir monks lived in individual hermitages around the main cloister, making it an unusually large community for a Carthusian monastery. This arrangement differed from typical Carthusian practice, where solitary contemplation was the norm.
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