The hermit Amand settled on the banks of the Vienne, near a ford, to live in prayer. He was joined in 500 by Junien, and the two of them went on to help travelers cross the ford. When he died, Amand was buried near his hermitage. In the 11th century, his grave was found, and a church was built over it. In the 16th century, the Récollet brothers took possession of the site, which had become dilapidated. The abbey was rebuilt to include a church, refectory and monastic cells. During the French...