Foundation of the Abbaye Saint Magloire de Lehon
The Abbaye Saint Magloire is nestled in the picturesque medieval village Léhon near Dinan.
The abbey was founded in the 6th century by six preaching monks from Wales who were the guardians of the relics of Saint Magloire, Bishop of Dol de Bretagne, one of the seven ancient dioceses of Brittany.
According to legend, a miraculous event occurred while the monks were searching for a suitable location to found their monastery: the trees and bushes near the ford across the Rance River began to blossom in the autumn.
This phenomenon was reminiscent of the “Eté de la Saint Martin,” (Indian Summer) when the mild weather prevailed when the body of Saint Martin was transported by boat from Saumur to Tours in November 397 AD, and the trees along the riverbank began to bloom.
Encouraged by this sign, the monks founded their monastery on land bequeathed to them by Nominoe, King of Brittany.
This land, situated in a bend of the Rance River, benefited from a strategic position, near the ford that allowed passage across the old Roman road, a crucial trade route linking Corseul to Rennes.
The Abbaye Saint Magloire in Léhon prospered thanks to the generous donations of the lords of Dinan.
However, the abbey was destroyed during the Norman invasions of the 9th century, however, the monks managed to escape, taking with them the precious relics of Saint Magloire.
The Abbaye Saint Magloire in the Middle Ages
The Abbaye Saint Magloire in Léhon is a remarkable example of the transition between Romanesque to Gothic architecture. Rebuilt in the 14th century, it has retained its original Romanesque porch.
The abbey flourished until the 15th century, when it came under the authority of commendatory abbots.
These, generally laymen, did not reside at the abbey and did not participate in its day-to-day management. However, they collected the abbey’s revenues, keeping the majority for themselves and distributing only a small portion to the monks.
This system led to financial difficulties, discontent among the monks, and poor maintenance of the buildings.
A period of spiritual renewal occurred in the 17th century under Prior Noël Mars, who restored the strict Benedictine rule.
He also undertook significant reconstruction work, notably on the cloister and other monastic buildings surrounding the magnificent Romanesque refectory, which became the heart of the abbey.
Unfortunately, the abbey fell into further decline after Noël Mars’s death. Becoming dependent on the Abbey of Marmoutiers, it lost its autonomy and many of its privileges.
By 1766, only ten monks remained, so King Louis XV ordered the abbey to be closed.
Rehabilitation of the Abbaye Saint Magloire
The Abbay Saint Magloire faced significant difficulties during and after the French Revolution.
Declared state property, it was indeed converted into an ammunition depot, then sold to a private individual who established a tannery in the monastic buildings.
Thus, by the end of the 19th century, the abbey had fallen into ruins!
It was restored in the 1890s, and the abbey church became the parish church, thanks to a collective effort by the villagers, the abbot, and the Hospitaller Brothers of Saint John of God.
The abbey was finally listed as a historical monument in 1931 and extensive restoration work are ongoing.
The first phase, in 1956, focused on protecting the buildings from flooding, an essential condition for their preservation.
The second phase, from 1987 to 1991, focused on restoring the church and the Romanesque refectory to their former glory.
The third and current phase of restoration includes landscaping the gardens, renovating the hospice, and restoring the square corner tower, which once housed the archives and the prison.
Today, the former bakery, the stables, and the miller’s house are privately owned.
Since 2001, Saint-Magloire Abbey has been owned by the municipality of Léhon, which is dedicated to its preservation.
Abbey Church Saint Magloire de Lehon
The Church of Saint Magloire boasts a wealth of historical and architectural treasures.
The 12th-century Romanesque porch and the richly sculpted granite baptismal font are superb examples of Romanesque art.
The nave of the church, with its ribbed vault completely rebuilt at the end of the 19th century, impresses with its size and simplicity.
In 1962, the Turmel-Dumont workshops created the church’s magnificent stained-glass windows, including the stunning rose window above the altar.
An organ was built and installed in 1997 to commemorate the centenary of the church’s restoration.
The church houses also the tombs of members of the Beaumanoir family, lords of Dinan and patrons of the abbey.
Their recumbent effigies, dating from the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, are placed along the walls of the nave.
Among them are ancestors and descendants of Bertrand du Guesclin, a leading historical figure from a minor branch of the lords of Dinan.
The church houses the relics of Saint Magloire and preserves bone of the holy man (quite a rare relic) in a small gilded reliquary affixed to the wall.
Museum and Romanesque sculpted head
The former study room, located next to the chapter house, has been transformed into a small museum.
The Musée de l’Abbaye Saint Magloire de Léhon houses a rich collection of books, prints, and various manuscripts, reflecting the abbey’s historical and intellectual heritage.
During restoration work in 2009, it was discovered that the museum room had been built above the 12th-century scriptorium, where monks copied and created manuscripts.
Works uncovered a sculpted head , now known as the Tête Romane (Romanesque Head).
Although the scriptorium is not open to the public, you can still admire this splendid sculpted head through a glass panel in the floor.
Cloister and Attic
The 17th-century cloister was the heart of monastic life, a place of meditation and contemplation for the monks.
Despite its relatively young age, the wooden frames that once supported the roofs of the side galleries have not withstood the test of time.
It has now been converted into a space for temporary art exhibitions.
An imposing stone staircase connects the monks’ dormitories to the church and the attic.
The attic, which once served as a storeroom for the abbey, boasts impressive dimensions due to its original single-room design.
The wooden roof frame, shaped like a ship’s keel, lends it a unique and distinctive character.
In 1984, a series of alcoves was fitted out in this attic for the filming of “The Companions of the New World“, directed by Gabriel Axel and based on the novel by Bernard Clavel.
Gardens of the Abbaye Saint Magloire de Lehon
The gardens of Saint-Magloire-de-Léhon Abbey slope down to the river and are adorned here and there with numerous Romanesque remains recovered from the former abbey.
Although the abbey’s two watermills were demolished in the 19th century, the monks’ cellar has been carefully restored.
A three-story square tower, at the corner of the main building, overlook the gardens. This tower used to house the abbey’s archives, with the upper floors served as a prison under the authority of the prior, who held judicial power. Interestingly, the toilets were located in the tower’s basement.
The peaceful gardens evoke the monastic solitude of bygone days and are an ideal setting for relaxation after a visit to the abbey.
Department of Côtes d’Armor
Coordinates: Lat 48.442311 – Long -2.038473
