The Cistercian Abbey of Valloires, France is a twelfth century foundation that was substantially rebuilt within the eighteenth century after the original abbey had been subjected to ruin and looting, including the collapse of the original abbey church in the 1700's. As such, between 1730 to 1738, a new abbey church was built, bringing us to the present structure.
The renovated abbey was built under the influence of the Baroque and Rococo styles by the Austrian artist Simon Pfaff de Pfaffenhoffen (+1784) with nods, especially on the exterior, to traditional Cistercian sobriety. The interior of the church and especially the high altar constructed of black marble and surrounded by two gilt angels, is much more ornate. Located behind the high altar is the choir.
Veyren is also the man responsible for the extremely beautiful gilt iron choir screen that separates the sanctuary from the nave. This grille is surmounted by the various heraldic arms associated with the abbey, as well as Eucharistic symbols and even sunflowers.
We conclude with a look back toward the narthex with the beautiful carved organ case.
Of particular note, however is the "suspension eucharistique" designed by Jean-Baptiste Veyren (+1788), a French locksmith and ironworker, coming in the form of a crozier (something that can be found elsewhere in France as well) with the suspended pyx in the form of a dove.
The chapel also contains beautiful, wood-carved statues of St. Peter and St. Paul as well as Aaron and Moses in the baroque style, all of which are also by Pfaff.
We conclude with a look back toward the narthex with the beautiful carved organ case.
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