Souvenir Medal Monnaie de Paris 2023 - Abbaye de Saint-Savin (86)

The Abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, located in the department of Vienne, France, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list due to its exceptional ensemble of Romanesque wall paintings from the 12th century, which are remarkably well-preserved. Although the founding charter was lost during the religious wars, it is estimated that the abbey was founded in the early 9th century under Charlemagne. It was dedicated to Saints Savin and Cyprien, Christian brothers persecuted in Macedonia, martyred on the banks of the Gartempe, and whose relics played a central role in the abbey's establishment. The Rule of Saint Benedict was adopted in 821, and the abbey became an important spiritual and cultural center, led by Abbot Eudes I, who oversaw the construction of the first church. Today, the Abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe remains a renowned artistic and historical treasure in France.