The New Abbeye - L'Abbaye Nouvelle (in Léobard) Gourdon in LOT / FRANCE description:This Gothic abbey was founded during the 13th century by the Cisterciensers. In 1242, Guillaume (Willem) de Gourdon gave several possessions and grounds to the abbey of Obazine, probably to please the inquisitors punishing the Cathars (trying to get a less severe punishment). De monks built their abbey on a calc ridge surrounded by fertile grounds. Officially, the name of their abbey was Saint-Mary de Gourdon, but quickly the name 'New Abbey' came. This was due to the fact that the monks of Obazine had sooner already try to create an abbey in the neighborhood, and effort that failed.
It took 30 years to build a 5 span long church of 45 metres.
However, by the end of the 13th century, the good times had finished. The 100 year war doomed the abbey. During the 15th century, some buildings were still repaired. In 1650, the last monks left the site which was secularized. Of the church, 2 spans were remaining, enough to use it as a parish church. Therefore, in 1669 a new porch was made.
But suffering was not over yet for the site.... During the French Revolution, the buildings were declared 'National property', meaning stones could be taken and soon not much more than ruines were left....
In 1978 , a cooperation was established in order to protect the site. They managed to get the New Abbey on the list of Historic Monuments, and did several restorations.
For more info, (French), see http://www.abbaye-nouvelle.fr/here.
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