Splendeur du Baroque
History of Saint Bruno's Church et of the Charterhouse
The Charterhouse in Lyon was built in the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries on the west slopes of the Croix-Rousse. Its property spred from the fortifications, to-day
"Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse" to the river Saçne. Of the Charterhouse remains the church Saint-Bruno, the small cloister, the monks cemetery
and the building of the presbytery, "impasse des Charteux" including the chapter house, called "Chapelle des retraites" (chapel of retreats).
Some historical Landmarks :
1580
The chapterhouse of the Carthusian monks, convened in Chambéry, decides the fondation of a house in Lyon.
1584 august
King
Henry III, passing in Lyon, gives to the future house its name "Charterhouse of the Lis Holy Spirit" and promises a gift of 30 000 pounds which
he will never give.
1584 october
The Cartusian monks buy the property "The Giroflée" on which will be built the monastery.
1590 april
Begining of the building following the plan of the architect Jean Magnan.
1590-1605
The building of the choir.
1616-1690
The elevation
of the walls of the nave and the dome; the works will last because of
lack of money and the works are even stopped during 15 years, from 1631
to 1646.
1736-1750
The plans of completion and enlargening of F. Delamonce. will be executed under his direction and after Soufflot 's direction. The Carthusian monks must resort to several loans for the financing.
1791
The selling
of the Charterhouse as national properties. Among 8 portions, only that
of the church doesn't find a purchaser.
The closing of the Charterhouse and the explusion of the 17 Cartusian
monks who still lived.
1803
The parish " Saint-Bruno the Carthusian" is created and the church became parish church.
1823-1879
The transformation of the lateral chapels, the furniture of the church (pulpit, organs, way of Cross) and realisation of the present neo-baroque front under the direction of Tony Tony Desjardins and Sainte-Marie Perrin.
1911
The whole church is listed as a " Monument Historique".
Location of the Charterhouse of Lyon
Scenographic plan of Lyon and the “La Giroflée” property
In the 17th century, the “La Giroflée” property spread from the Saone to the fortifications of the Croix-Rousse (today replaced by the boulevard of the same name). It was purchased in October 1585 by the Carthusians to establish the Charterhouse of Lyon under the name “Chartreuse du Lys Saint-Esprit” (“Charterhouse of the Lys of the Holy Spirit”).
Extract from "Plan scénographique de Lyon" about 1550
Archives municipales de Lyon, 7 S 8 , cliché J. Gastineau/AML 5 Ph 26760
The Charterhouse of Lyon in 18th century
Plan of the Charterhouse of Lyon in 18th century
(painting around 1730, collection of Museum of the Grande Chartreuse)
The construction works of the second campaign according to the plans of Delamonce were completed with the exception of the façade. The latter, not visible on the drawing, would only be undertaken much later in 1870-1871 by Sainte-Marie Perrin, in the spirit of the 18th century.
Today all that remains of the charterhouse are the church, the little cloister, and the presbytery building which shelters the chapter house (chapel of retreats). Some vestiges of the cells of the monks were included in civilian buildings subsequent to the sale of nationalized properties at the beginning of the French Revolution.
(photo studio Basset)
Plan of the Carthusian in 17th century
The charterhouses were, at the origin, situated in isolated places such as mountains or forests. Beginning in the 17th century, popes and princes established charterhouses in towns. But the principles of isolation, silence and contemplation were always respected in the choice of sites.
The general plan is approximately the same for all charterhouses :
- a large cloister around which are distributed the cells of the monks with a small garden,
- a little cloister which leads to the church, with the adjoining chapter house and dinning-room,
- the church,
- the Prior’s house,
- the converses’ house.
Cross-section of the Church as existed in 1736
(Archives départementales du Rhône)
The little door at the end of the choir opens on to the small cloister through which one could enter into the chapter house and the dinning-room.
Lyon, 2003, Croix-Rousse hill, looking the belfry of St-Bruno church on the left.
(photo Jean-Marc Berthier, laboratoire Gris souris Lyon)