Le Pallet, birthplace of Pierre Abélard,
in pictures

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Plaque on the wall of the donjon ruins at Le Pallet

Translation: To the memory of Pierre Abélard, philosopher and theologian, born in Le Pallet in 1079, and of his wife, Heloise, who became the very wise abbess of Le Paraclet.

« In doubting, we come to seek, and in seeking, we perceive the truth. »

1979. Gift of the History and archeology society of Nantes and of Loire Atlantique.

Le Pallet, Loire-Atlantique

• Foreground: remains of the donjon that was part of the seignoral chateau, where Abelard was probably born and grew up. Abelard’s mother, Lucie, was a daughter of the seigneur (lord) Daniel du Pallet, while his father, Berenger, was probably captain of the guard.
• Middle ground: Chapel of Sainte-Anne.
• Distance: Muscadet vineyards going yellow in the autumn afternoon. This region is the centre of Muscadet vineyards.
  The Wine Museum (Musée du Vignoble Nantais), which contains a room devoted to Pierre Abelard’s life, is across the road, beyond and hidden by the chapel. The Pierre Abélard room has mostly 17th – 19th century prints depicting Abelard’s life and times. There are some posters (in French) detailing his writings and a DVD documentary (in French) is shown on request.
  The Wine Museum also sells some books published by the local Pierre Abelard cultural association (with numerous illustrations and photographs):
• Le Pallet, patrie d’Abélard (2e édition), Assn Culturelle P. Abélard, 2003
  ( Le Pallet, birthplace of Abelard.)
• Quelques aspects de Pierre Abélard : Abélard du Pallet, Abélard musicien, la généalogie d’Abélard, 1999
  (Some aspects of Peter Abelard: Abelard of Le Pallet, Abelard the musician, the genealogy of Abelard.)
• Iconographie, Pierre Abélard : miniatures, lithographies, peintures, sculptures, 2001
  (Iconography [illustrations], Peter Abelard: miniatures, lithographs, paintings, sculptures.)

Chapel of Sainte-Anne (12th century).

Another view of la Chapelle Sainte-Anne from across the more modern graveyard. Note how the local craftsman has a fine trade in vine-adorned crosses.

Part way down the main road in Le Pallet, which is called la Rue Pierre Abélard. Photo taken on a typically dull and rainy afternoon in this sleepy, small town.

At the other end of this Brittany village (a village is called a town - une ville - in France) is this more modern church, now taken over for “good works”.

Le Pallet is in the département of Loire-Atlantique [44], in the region of Pays de La Loire.

end note

donjon

great tower or innermost keep (bailey) of a castle. Originally the word dungeon was used in this sense (see, for instance, Chaucer). Later, the word was changed from the sense of great tower to the modern usage of dungeon, while donjon is now used for the original sense.

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© abelard, 2004, 17 november


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the address for this document is https://www.abelard.org/france/le-pallet.php