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Memo
At least 22 abbots were buried in the chapterhouse but their burial slabs were taken off before the level of the ground was raised in 1792. Nowadays concerts and receptions are held in this room because of its exceptional acoustics.
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 Visit
The chapterhouse
The chapterhouse is the gem of the Abbey. It is the largest Cistercian chapterhouse in Europe. It was finished in 1175.. That is where the major events of the community, such as the election of the abbot, announcements, public penance, took place. It was also in the chapterhouse that the abbot and the monks gathered once a day to listen to a chapter of the Rule of Saint Benedict . Then the abbot, who presided over the life of the monks would make a speech of exhortation. The 3 southern windows used to open onto the big cloister. The chapterhouse has the same architectural characteristics as the Monks' Quarters but it is slightly more elegant. It is rib-vaulted – there are 9 vaults altogether – and divided into 3 naves with 3 bays each.The capitals of the 4 central columns are decorated with sculpted arum leaves. In this room most of the abbots who presided over the destiny, either happy or unhappy of the abbey were buried - The Vaucelles Abbey wasn't spared by the Hundred Year War and by robbery and violence .
Modified on 17-05-2010 |  | |
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