Sumptuous tombs

Les trois tombeaux dans le chœur de l'église du monastère royal de Brou

In the choir of the church, you can admire the princely tombs. Sumptuous, they are the jewels of the monument! Our eyes are amazed by the finesse of the sculpted decoration, typically flamboyant.

THREE PRINCELY TOMBS

The sculptures of the tombs of the royal monastery of Brou are real stone lacework, full of details and statuettes. Admire the pinnacles Scalloped arches and openwork canopies !

In the center of the choir, you will discover the tomb of Philibert le Beau. It is in his honor that Marguerite of Austria decides to build the royal monastery of Brou. To his right is the tomb of Philibert's mother, Marguerite de Bourbon. To his left, the tomb of Marguerite of Austria stands proudly, topped by an imposing canopy worthy of her rank.

Like the double-decker buses in London, the tombs of Marguerite and Philibert consist of two parts: the recumbent and the transi. On top, the recumbent represents the person as if he were alive, in full regalia. At the bottom, the tranny represents the deceased person, simply clothed.

Le tombeau de Philibert le Beau, au centre du chœur de l'église de Brou — Le tombeau de Philibert le Beau, dans le chœur de l'église de Brou
© David Bordes

A RADIANCE FOUND

Restored in 2018, the tombs of the Royal Monastery of Brou have regained their full brilliance!

All the surfaces were cleaned with great delicacy, with water and steam. Simple tools were used: brushes, absorbent paper, cotton and toothbrushes.

The delicate work of stone lace, the nuances of the materials, the details that had disappeared, such as the veins of the alabaster of Philibert II's tranny, reappear today for our greatest pleasure.

And if you came to admire them?

Le tombeau de Philibert le Beau lors de sa restauration en 2018
© Monastère royal de Brou (DR)

THE SIBYL OF CUMES

This statue of the tomb of Philibert the Beautiful was decapitated in 1831.

Disappeared, the small head in alabaster of this sibyl could be found thanks to a drawing ! It had been kept in the museum of Saint-Omer since 1856.

On the occasion of the restoration of the tombs in 2018, it was transferred to the Royal Monastery of Brou. Nearly two centuries after losing her head, the sibyl of Cumae is now reconstituted!

Détail de la sibylle de Cumes, statuette du tombeau de Philibert le Beau — La sibylle de Cumes, statuette du tombeau de Philibert le Beau
© Hervé Lewandowski

EXCEPTIONAL MATERIALS

Marguerite of Austria wishes the best for her life's work. You will see that the choice of stones for the tombs is not a coincidence!

The foundations and the funeral slabs are carved in black stone. Also called " black marble ", the stones come from Belgian and Swiss quarries. Quite a distance for the time!

White Carrara marble, produced near Pisa in Italy, is reserved for the upper recumbents, which are the most prestigious parts of the tombs.

The small statues and architectural decorations that adorn the tombs are made of Jura alabaster. Its appearance is similar to marble, but it is much easier to carve! Already used in the ^15th century for the tombs of the Dukes of Burgundy in Dijon, this stone was chosen by Marguerite of Austria as an echo to her Burgundian origins.