Prieuré de Saint-Martin des Champs - CNAM Library

Heritage Days week-end part deux: reading room of an abbey!! The "Prieuré de Saint-Martin des Champs" was part of an abbey established in 1060 and was quite important for several centuries until the French Revolution seized land properties belonging to religious communities.

Once the Terror was over in 1794, Abbott Grégoire did his best to salvage church heritage and convinced the Directory (revolutionary government) to turn the place into a school dedicated to industry, which is what it still is today (Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers as indicated on the building's entrance - last photo).

The library's reading room is located in one of the oldest standing part of the abbey. This is the room where monks would spend time reading. It is a magnificent exemple of Gothic architecture with tall stained glass windows and a stunning staircase and pulpit. The staircase and half the pulpit are actually carved into the wall! From there, monks would read stories from the lives of saints.

Aside from the Heritage Days week-ends, it is possible to visit the CNAM library reading room once a month. You will find the schedule on their website. Enjoy!