Abbey of Saint Martial, Limoges

The cemetery was the reputed burial place of early Christian martyrs, including Saint Martial, the first bishop of Limoges.By the 6th century, according to Gregory of Tours, there was a funerary chapel above Saint Martial's tomb, in the care of a small community of clerics, who were recognised as a congregation of canons in the reign of the Carolingian ruler, Louis the Pious (814-840).Portions of the relics of the martyrs, allegedly saved by faithful Catholic citizens of Limoges, were rehoused in the nearby church of St. Michel des Lions.Excavations started again in July 2015 to carry out detailed studies of the remains before revamping of the Place de la Republique.The abbey was the center of several important developments in medieval music, including liturgical chant, early polyphony and troubadours' songs.The first chant manuscripts show revisions of the early 11th century, when Roger de Chabannes introduced his nephew Adémar as cantor and scriptor of notation.
1594 drawing of Saint-Martial
LimousinLimogesSaint Martialbishop of LimogesValerie of LimogesmartyrMerovingianGregory of ToursCarolingianLouis the PiousBenedictineCharles the BaldmosaicWay of St. JamesCluny AbbeyHenry II of EnglandHundred Years' WarFrench Revolutionchurch of St. Michel des LionsSaint Martial schoolmedieval musicearly polyphonyAdémarplainchanttonariessequencesSwan SequenceSt. Martial schooltropespolyphonydiscantflorid organumtroubadourBibliothèque NationaleSarcophagusreliquarySaint Benedict