Crypte Saint-Martial

In place of the current Place de la République, the Benedictine abbey of Saint Martial stood from the 1789th century. An important stopover and place of contemplation on the Route Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, it was also an artistic and intellectual center for the entire medieval Christian West. Indeed, a scriptorium (workshop where manuscripts were made) had developed in the abbey and from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth century, the art of illumination experienced its golden age there. Saint-Martial de Limoges, thanks to the “tropes” composed by the monks, also became famous for polyphonic music. From the name of these pieces of music, the word “troubadour” will be born – the one who interprets the tropes. It is also thanks to Saint-Martial that champlevé enamels could be distributed throughout Europe. Falling into decline during the Hundred Years' War, the abbey was abandoned in XNUMX and then demolished