Marchiennes Abbey

Marchiennes Abbey was a French monastery located on the Scarpe in Marchiennes. It was founded around 630 by Adalbard of Douai, and Irish monks, disciples of Saint Columbanus, on the advice of Saint Amand. One of its founders was Rictrude, who made it double monastery in 643. In around 1024 it became monastery of men again and adopted the Benedictine rule. On the birth of the town of Marchiennes the abbey became its economic motor until being suppressed in 1791 during the French Revolution. In 1814 all but its 1748 gatehouse was demolished. Its remains were inscribed on the inventory of monuments historiques on 17 May 1974,

The monastery was founded around 630 AD by Irish monks, disciples of Saint Columbanus and Adalbard of Douai, on the advice of Saint Amand. After the death of Adalbert I of Ostrevent in 642 AD, his widow, Rictrude, made it a double monastery with herself as the first Abbess. There are among the founders, besides Adalbaud and Rictrude, St. Eusebius (d. 660) (their daughter) and Saint Maurant(their son).

The monastery managed to grow as the city and region bought clearing, drainage and exploitation of marshes and bogs. However it was devastated by the Normans in the 9th century and the end of the 10th century. In 1024 AD, Marchiennes become a male only community under the rule of saint Benedict. From the 11th to the 13th century Marchiennes becomes one of the major abbeys in the North of the France. Its scriptorium produced a significant amount of illuminated manuscripts. On May 16, 1133, the relics of Saint Eusebius are interred.

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