Tart Abbey

Tart Abbey: The First Cistercian Nunnery

Tart Abbey, also known as Le Tart Abbey, holds the distinction of being the very first nunnery established within the Cistercian movement. Founded in 1132 in Burgundy, France, near the mother house of Cîteaux Abbey, it played a pioneering role in the expansion of Cistercian life for women.

Foundation and Early Years

The establishment of Tart Abbey was the culmination of complex negotiations involving local lords, church officials, and the abbot of Cîteaux. The initial foundation charter is dated 1132, stemming from earlier land grants. Arnoul Cornu, lord of Tart-le-Haut, and his wife Emeline, were the primary benefactors. The first abbess, Elizabeth de Vergy, a former novice from Jully Abbey, led the community for four decades. By 1147, the abbey had secured papal protection, ensuring its stability and facilitating its growth.

Economic Strength and Spiritual Influence

From its inception, Tart Abbey benefited from significant endowments, particularly from land and vineyards. The sale of wine from its extensive holdings in the prestigious Vignoble de Bourgogne region formed a crucial part of its economy. Due to the strenuous nature of agricultural work, lay brothers from Cîteaux were often employed in the fields and vineyards, with day-laborers hired to supplement their efforts. Under the spiritual guidance and oversight of the abbot of Cîteaux, who also appointed the abbess, Tart Abbey developed into the leading house for Cistercian nuns, initiating the foundation of numerous daughter houses across France and Spain.

Decadence, Reform, and Relocation

While the first century of Tart Abbey was marked by rigorous devotion and a leading position within the order, a period of decline set in. This was exacerbated by external factors such as endemic warfare, famine, and economic hardship. Additionally, a common trend in medieval women's religious foundations saw wealthy families placing unmarried female relatives within their walls, which sometimes diluted the community's spiritual focus. By the 16th century, the abbey suffered from decadence and notoriety for worldly and immoral practices.

A significant reform effort was spearheaded by Abbess Jeanne-Françoise de Courcelles de Pourlan, who returned to Tart as abbess in 1617. Facing considerable resistance, she found an ally in Sébastien Zamet, Bishop of Langres. Recognizing the difficulty of achieving reform at the original site, the decision was made to transfer the community to Dijon in 1623. This move was intended to facilitate greater seclusion and spiritual discipline.

Destruction and Legacy

The relocated community in Dijon faced further hardships, including delays in establishing suitable premises and the devastating sacking and burning of the original Tart abbey buildings by troops in 1636 during the Thirty Years' War. Only an isolated chapel survived the destruction. The community itself was eventually dissolved during the French Revolution. Today, the original site of Tart Abbey exists as ruins, a poignant reminder of its foundational role in Cistercian history.