Orbais-l'Abbaye

Orbais-l'Abbaye
Orbais-l'Abbaye
Location within Champagne-Ardenne region Orbais-l'Abbaye
Coordinates: 48°57′03″N 3°41′58″E / 48.9508°N 3.6994°E / 48.9508; 3.6994Coordinates: 48°57′03″N 3°41′58″E / 48.9508°N 3.6994°E / 48.9508; 3.6994
Country	France
Region	Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine
Department	Marne
Arrondissement	Arrondissement of Épernay
Canton	Canton of Montmort-Lucy
Intercommunality	Communauté de communes de la Brie des Étangs
Government
• Mayor	Pierre-Yves Jardel
Area¹	16.03 km² (6.19 sq mi)
Population (2006)²	578
• Density	36/km² (93/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	51416 / 51270
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. ² Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Orbais-l'Abbaye is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. The abbey at Orbais was founded at the end of the 17th century by Saint Réol, and the remains (including a church) are situated in the centre of the town.

Name

The name Orbais is of Germanic origin meaning "Brook" and The first element "Or" remains uncertain. But could simply designate as "water" or "swamp" from the basque word ur 'water').

There are also Orbais in Belgium, Alsace and Orbec in Normandy.

History

Founded at the end of the 7th century by Saint Réol, 26th Bishop of Reims, the benedictine Abbey is located in the Surmelin valley. The first monks who settled in Orbais, six came from the monastery of Rebais and followed the rule of saint Benedict.

The St. Pierre-St. Paul Church was built at the end of the 12th century and early 13th century.

René de Rieux was Abbé commendataire of Orbais between 1626 and 1651 and was also Abbot of the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Daoulas, the Relec Abbey and Bishop of León.^[1]

During the first world war, the French 5th Army established its campaign HQ in the Castle on September 3, 1914.

Population

At the revolution the population was about 850, between about 1835 and 1870 the population was about 1000 people and then began to decline. The population is today about 550 people in the town.^[2]^[3]

Landmarks

Château, Orbais-l'Abbaye.

Abbaye Saint-Pierre.^[4]
Tour Saint-Réole.
La source Minette,

Abbey

Abbey church Orbais-l'Abbaye.

The St. Pierre-St. Paul Church was built at the end of the 12th century and early 13th century by Jean of Orbais, one of the architects of the Cathedral of Reims. The Abbey Church had a length of 78 m with eight bays of nave, Two of which remain today. The architecture is superb and particularly the façade, with its two towers similar to those of the Basilica Saint-Rémi de Reims and the choir with ambulatory with five radiating chapels. There is also stained glass windows of the 12 century, funerary slabs from the 14th and 15th centuries, a baptismal font from the 16th century, the glazed tiles from the 15th century and impressive stalls of choir and very decorated misericords.