St. Donat

Saint Donat-sur-l'Herbasse. From a distance you see the Saint Donat monastic buildings overlook the Herbasse Valley.

In the 8th century an old village, called Jovinzieu, took the name of Saint Donat who was a priest native of Orleans.

At the beginning of the 6th century the priest took refuge in the Lure Mountain near Sisteron. There he lived as a hermit. He died in 535.

After his death a series of miracles happened. Legends were born such as the one according to which Saint Donat defeated a dragon. It's the fight of Good and Evil from which God's friend is victorious! He's celebrated on the 19th of August.

One of the buildings of the monastry is the Collegial Church Saint Pierre et Saint Paul. St Donat is famous for it's Bach festivals. And who says Bach hears in the background already the sounds of an organ.

Here you see the famous organ of the Collegial Church. There was a rehearsal today for the coming Musicollegiales 2011. We were the only visitors this morning and were privileged to enjoy two fugues and a toccata of J.S. Bach. And that they were played several times each in a different way was no punishment at all ... ;)