Abbey of Valbenoîte, Religious building in Saint-Étienne, France.
The Abbey of Valbenoîte is a church building in Saint-Étienne featuring Romanesque design with rounded arches, a central nave with side aisles, and a barrel-vaulted ceiling. Located in the Valbenoîte district, it continues to serve the local Catholic community.
The building was founded in 1184 following a dispute between the Count of Forez and the Archbishop of Lyon, with its first stone laid in 1222. Over the centuries, it was destroyed and rebuilt several times, allowing it to adapt to different periods.
The abbey houses a notable organ from the 1800s and displays carved stone work adorning the apse. These artistic elements reflect the craft traditions that flourished in the region during medieval and early modern times.
The building sits at Place de l'Abbaye in the Valbenoîte district and is easy to reach. It remains open for visitors who wish to explore the architecture and interior.
The building survived multiple destructions from English forces in the 1300s and religious turmoil in the Renaissance period. These attacks forced repairs and changes that remain visible in its stones today.
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