Les terrasses de l'abbaye de saint Amand

The hermit Amand settled on the banks of the Vienne, near a ford, to live in prayer. He was joined in 500 by Junien, and the two of them went on to help travelers cross the ford. When he died, Amand was buried near his hermitage. In the 11th century, his grave was found, and a church was built over it. In the 16th century, the Récollet brothers took possession of the site, which had become dilapidated. The abbey was rebuilt to include a church, refectory and monastic cells. During the French Revolution, the entire property was sold to Sieur Bernard, a miller, who in turn sold it to Sieur Périgord, sub-prefect of Rochechouart. The latter demolished the buildings and used the materials to build retaining walls, giving the abbey its fortified appearance. Today, only the north transept remains, and gardens have been laid out.