Bonfays
Title
Bonfays
Also Known As
Bonfail, Bonifagetum, Bonum Fagetum, Notre-Dame de Bonfay
Dates
Founded 1145; dissolved 1790.
Dedication
Mary
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Bonfays was founded by Guillaume, lord of Archies, and his sister-in-law, Valence, in 1145. It was never a large or prosperous house. Bonfays was a commendatory abbey 1539-1589 and again 1749-1790. The community was dissolved in 1790 and the property was sold.
Bonfays' church was destroyed during the Hundred Years' War; a second church was built in the latter part of the 15th century. No remains are visible today, and the former site of the abbey is occupied by a disused nightclub.
Bonfays' church was destroyed during the Hundred Years' War; a second church was built in the latter part of the 15th century. No remains are visible today, and the former site of the abbey is occupied by a disused nightclub.
Heads of Community
Abbots
Gonthier, 1145-1155
Ascelin, 1155-ca. 1175
Gardricus, fl. ca. 1175
Wiard, 1181-1198, 1219-ca. 1230
Ymerus, 1198-?
Conon, 1231-1236
Nicolas de Ville, 1236-1238
Thébaut I, 1247
Herbert (or Hymber), 1268-1276
Aubert, 1277-1287
Simon, 1287-1324
Jacques, fl. 1326
Jean I, 1330-1332
Gérard, 1332-1341
Thébaut II, fl. 1344
Louis, 1360-ca. 1378
Pierre des Rochers, 1379-ca. 1382
Olry de Neufchâtel, fl. 1390
Demenge de Velotte (or de Villers), 1394-1439
Didier de Grand, 1439-1450
Guillaume de Remoncourt, 1450-1457
Nicole I Magnien de Saint-Baslemont, 1457-1480
Gérard Roulin, by 1487-1490
Jean II de Cortesiis, 1490-1498
Etienne I Morizot de Liffol, 1498-1501
Jean III Morizot, 1501-1505
Nicole II Rouyer de Châtenois, 1505-1523
Nicole III de Breulx, 1523-1526
Thierri Deschault, 1526-1539
Commendatory Abbots
Etienne II de Marthoy (or de Marsay), 1539-1562
Gonthier, 1145-1155
Ascelin, 1155-ca. 1175
Gardricus, fl. ca. 1175
Wiard, 1181-1198, 1219-ca. 1230
Ymerus, 1198-?
Conon, 1231-1236
Nicolas de Ville, 1236-1238
Thébaut I, 1247
Herbert (or Hymber), 1268-1276
Aubert, 1277-1287
Simon, 1287-1324
Jacques, fl. 1326
Jean I, 1330-1332
Gérard, 1332-1341
Thébaut II, fl. 1344
Louis, 1360-ca. 1378
Pierre des Rochers, 1379-ca. 1382
Olry de Neufchâtel, fl. 1390
Demenge de Velotte (or de Villers), 1394-1439
Didier de Grand, 1439-1450
Guillaume de Remoncourt, 1450-1457
Nicole I Magnien de Saint-Baslemont, 1457-1480
Gérard Roulin, by 1487-1490
Jean II de Cortesiis, 1490-1498
Etienne I Morizot de Liffol, 1498-1501
Jean III Morizot, 1501-1505
Nicole II Rouyer de Châtenois, 1505-1523
Nicole III de Breulx, 1523-1526
Thierri Deschault, 1526-1539
Commendatory Abbots
Etienne II de Marthoy (or de Marsay), 1539-1562
Status
Abbey
Archival Sources
Épinal, Archives départementales des Vosges
16 H 1 - 16 H 37 (12th c.-1789; Finding Aid)
Nancy, Bibliothèque Stanislas
MS 1751 (992, vol. 4), fol. 302.
MS 1769 (995, vol. 2), fols. 87r-128r, 163r.
16 H 1 - 16 H 37 (12th c.-1789; Finding Aid)
Nancy, Bibliothèque Stanislas
MS 1751 (992, vol. 4), fol. 302.
MS 1769 (995, vol. 2), fols. 87r-128r, 163r.
Reference
Bibliography
Clasquin, François, and Charles Liégeois. “Essai de reconstitution de l’abbaye de Bonfays et de ses dépendances.” Annales de la Société d’émulation du département des Vosges 84 (1908): 1–27. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k33397b/f81.item.
Idoux, C. “Guillaume d’Arches, fondateur de Bonfays.” Bulletin mensuel de la Société d’archéologie lorraine et du Musée historique lorrain 10 (1910): 193–206. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k84069j/f191.item.
Image Credit
Clasquin and Liégois, Reconstruction of Bonfays Abbey. Gallica.
Last Updated
Oct. 2026.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Bonfays,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/196.
Geolocation
Item Relations
| This Item | DependentOn | Item: Flabémont |