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HUGUES DE PAYNS MUSEUM
Secrets of the Knights Templar in Champagne
Power
and secrecy are a heady combination and humans just can’t
get enough of the mysteries of secret societies that seem to operate
in the dark shadows of politics and religion, from the DaVinci Code’s
reliance on the mostly made up ‘Priory of Scion” to
the involvement of the Freemasons in America’s founding. Many
of these fictional or imaginative conspiracy theories originate with
the
very real history of The Order of the Knights Templar and a piece of
that mysterious history can be found in a small town in central
France near Troyes.
The
Knights Templar, officially known as "The Order of the
Poor Brothers-in-Arms of Christ for the Protection
of the Temple of Solomon" was founded
in 1128 by the Catholic Council of Troyes. The first Templars
were a small
group of 9 medieval knights dedicated to religious piety, chastity
and poverty, led by a minor nobleman from the Champagne region
of central France who had served in the First Crusade, Hugues
de Payns (various spellings - Hughes de Payens
or
Pagens). The original intent of the order was to protect the
safety of Christian Pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. The Templars
were promoted
and supported by local French cleric Bernard of Clairvaux (St.
Bernard see Chatillon-Sur_Seine)
as head of the Cistercian monastic order in Champagne
and Burgundy whose
writing was central to instigation of the Second Crusade. Over time
the idea of chastity and
poverty
faded
as
the Templars became a great economic power through their handling
of a medieval version
of a banking system, passing money through the order by means
of
the travels of its knights and Cistercian monks and network of
monasteries (see Abbey
Fontenay) between
Europe and the Holy Lands. The Templar order was brutally
crushed in a swift power
play by French King Phillip the Fair (see Dijon),
when all of it’s
order was arrested on the ever-since unlucky night of Friday
13th, 1307. Many
were tortured, executed and its Grand Master Jacques
de Molay,
burnt at the stake, bringing us the word "immolation".
About
5 miles to the west of the Champagne region capital of Troyes (see Troyes
Medieval City),
the still very small town of Payns is marked by
a water tower with
the curious artwork of a medieval Templar Knight with red cross
on white. Of course, this is the hometown of local boy who made it
big, Hughes de Payens who became lord of this village in 1113. As
any small
town would, Payns has established a museum dedicated to its local
hero. So
much
of the
Knights
Templar
story
emanates from
the Champagne and Burgundy regions of France where the sect began,
and any tourist of France with an interest in this fascinating
historical mystery may find a visit to this otherwise very quiet
little town
a
worthwhile stop. The Musee Hugues de Payns is
only open from 3pm to 6pm from May
to September on the first Sunday of the month. On display are
miniatures, an illuminated map, archeological artifacts and relics.
I have
to admit, when I stopped at this unique little museum, it was
closed, so
the Templar
secrets
contained
within
remain
a mystery, but perhaps the next visitor can unearth its dark
truths. For more Templar drama, the Museum Di Marco in nearby Troyes
offers an exhibit of illustrated texts of the Trials
of The Templars (Les Proces des Templiers).
The
village of Payns is located along the Aube River and a drive
along Route 9 passes several ancient village churches.
Perhaps
not a destination
to plan all by itself, a unique and curious stop on a French
countryside journey. The Abbey Clairvaux is east of Troyes
and Abbey Paracalet
from the legend of Heloise and Abelard to the west (see ).
The town of St. Sulpice has a beautiful 12th Century church and the Chateau
Barberey Saint Sulpice is a mile east of Payns and
at €2,
very cheap to visit. Just don't come during the two hour French
at lunch time. © Bargain
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Web Info
Musee Hugues
de Payns
Troyes
Tourism
See Also:
AMERICAN WWII CEMETARIES IN FRANCE
DIJON
CENTRAL HOTELS
FAMILY
FUN AND CHAMPAGNE
GODFEY'S
CRUSADER'S CASTLE BELGIUM
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