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Flines Abbey

Flines-lez-Raches, Italy

Flines Abbey

Flines Abbey (French: Abbaye de Flines; also L'Honneur Notre-Dame de Flines) was a Cistercian nunnery in Flines-lez-Raches near Douai, in the Nord department of France. It was founded in about 1234 by Countess Margaret of Flanders, and served as the burial place not only of Margaret in 1278 but of M

argaret's husband William II of Dampierre (body transferred to Saint-Dizier in 1257) and their son Guy, Count of Flanders (1304), as well as of Guy's wives Matilda of Béthune (1263) and Isabelle of Luxembourg (1298). The abbey was damaged in the conflicts between France and Flanders, being devastated in the Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle in 1304. Restoration work was completed in the 14th century, resulting in a precinct of 14 hectares. Large parts of the abbey were rebuilt under Abbess Jeanne de Boubais (1507–1533), including the church, cloister, guest accommodation and kitchens. The cruciform church was 222 feet long by 105 feet across the transepts, and had a wooden tower. Work continued under Jacqueline de Lalaing (1533–1561), who rebuilt the abbess's house on a grand scale. These buildings were remodelled under Ernestine Obert (1691–1695), with the church being reworked in the classical style...

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