Luxeuil Abbey, Benedictine monastery in Luxeuil-les-Bains, France.
Luxeuil Abbey is a monastic complex featuring a 14th-century Gothic church and stone structures that incorporate natural thermal springs into the grounds. The church currently functions as a parish church, while other buildings house a diocesan seminary available for scheduled visits.
Founded in 590 by Irish missionary Columbanus on the ruins of the Roman city Luxovium, the monastery quickly became an important center of religious learning. It gained prominence throughout the Middle Ages as a major hub for manuscript production and scholarship.
The scriptorium created a distinctive script that became known throughout medieval Europe for copying religious texts. Visitors can still see examples of this writing style in surviving manuscripts displayed within the complex.
Access to the abbey is organized through scheduled visits since several buildings remain in active use for religious and educational purposes. Plan your visit in the afternoon to see more of the stone structures and the layout of the complex.
The abbey preserves a 7th-century liturgical manuscript that reflects rare early medieval influences from Mozarabic and Italian religious traditions. This document reveals unexpected connections between this French monastery and distant religious communities across Europe.
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