Montier-en-Der - Notre-Dame

Saint Bercharius (aka "Saint Berchaire") founded a monastery here in 670. Later it was Carolingian property, transferred by Louis the Pious to the bishop of Reims. In the early 10th century it was given up due to Viking attacks, but reestablished some decades later. The convent accepted the Gorze Reform before it changed to the Cluniac Reform later. The abbey was secularized at the French Revolution. In 1806 Napoleon established the National Stud Farm ("Le Haras National") in the grounds of the former monastery, to breed improved horses for the use of the cavalry.

The former abbey church now serves the parish of the small town. The church was consecrated in 998 - and many parts of the structure date back to the 10th century. The layout of walls of the nave is Romanesque and reminds to Vignory (40 km south/east).


The Early Gothic choir is very interesting. It was erected "end of the 12th century" (information provided in Montier-en-Der), what is rather early. I could not find any more precise dates so far.