Solignac (; ) is a
commune in the
Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne (; , ; Upper Vienne) is a département in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwest-central France. Named after the Vienne River, it is one of the twelve départements that together constitute Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The prefecture an ...
department in the
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Nouvelle-Aquitaine () is the largest Regions of France, administrative region in France by area, spanning the west and southwest of Metropolitan France. The region was created in 2014 by the merging of Aquitaine, Limousin, and Poitou-Charentes ...
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
in west-central
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
.
Geography
The village lies on the right bank of the
Briance, which flows westward through the commune. It contains the former
Abbey of Solignac, part of the
Benedictine
The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...
order; founded in 631 and rebuilt several times, the current buildings date from the 17th century. Suppressed during the
French Revolution and used as a porcelain factory until 1931, the former Abbey church is known as an exceptional example of
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe that was predominant in the 11th and 12th centuries. The style eventually developed into the Gothic style with the shape of the arches providing a simple distinction: the Ro ...
and has been designated a National Historic Monument. On 1 August 2021 the community of Benedictine monks returned to the abbey and will be an active religious site once again.
has rail connections to Brive-la-Gaillarde and Limoges. Inhabitants are known as ''Solignacois'' in French.
Personalities
*
St Ramaclus, 7th-century monk who was the first abbot at Solignac Abbey.
*
Joseph Brousseau, French architect probably born at Solignac around 1733 and died at
Sées in the Orne on 5 February 1797.
*
Georges d'Aubusson de La Feuillade (1609-1697), later
Bishop of Embrun and
Bishop of Metz
This is a list of bishops of the Roman Catholic diocese of Metz, which now lies in eastern France.
To 500
* Clement of Metz (c. 280–300)
* Celestius
* Felix I
* Patient
* Victor I 344–346
* Victor II
* Simeon
* Sambace
* Rufus of Metz
* Ad ...
was a member and later
Abbot
Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the head of an independent monastery for men in various Western Christian traditions. The name is derived from ''abba'', the Aramaic form of the Hebrew ''ab'', and means "father". The female equivale ...
of Solignac Abbey, from 1639 to 1649;
See also
*
Communes of the Haute-Vienne department
References
External links
COMMUNE SOLIGNAC PHOTO GALLERY
Communes of Haute-Vienne
{{HauteVienne-geo-stub