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St.Germain stroll,the Saint Bernardin College and its history (part 5)

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Now we stroll to the final stop of this walk no. 2. There stands a building, originally built in 1244 (Roman), remodeled in 1338 (Gothic) and finally restored in the 19th century, and occupied finally by…firemen from 1854 until not so long ago. This is the BERNARDIN’S COLLEGE on the rue de Poissy at no.18 with a 71 meters long refectory! I believe they dined more than they prayed in this convent (at 24).
There have been plans, motions and political discussions (that’s a typical Belgian and French “passé-temps”!!). to open the place to the public. Let’s hope it will be soon implemented.
This St.Bernard abbey had very rigorous rules (in the past). , a wall eight meters height to be sure that its monk inmates could not flee. Like a prison today!!
However, things relaxed over the centuries and the abbey became famous for its “short sermon and long table” J.
Closed down by the Revolution in 1790, it was used as a prison for a certain time. In 1793 a “slaughter” took place here, when ill informed “sans culotte” murdered 73 innocent prisoners to the very last, assuming they were disguised monks. Human nature can be so kind……
Walk down to the boulevard Saint-Germain and one block along the rue de Pontoise. The passageway ending at no.19 is walled on its left (north) side by the blackened façade of the COLLEGE’S MEDIEVAL CHURCH.
End of stroll “ A medieval Sampler”, stroll no. 2 buy Arthur Gillette. To have more of his strolls, mail him, referring to Jack/Travel at Armed@aol.com/ 

  Bibliography

A Medieval Sampler, stroll no.2 by Arthur Gillette (ed.Media-Cartes)
Dictionary of the Middle Ages, ed. Joseph Strayer. New York, 1982-89.