posted 09-15-2001 09:31 PM         

I'm back.

posted 09-16-2001 06:30 AM            

And that is the short of it.
I might add that many of these buildings were fortified in some way. They could be sources of plunder for armies etc.
Just visited such a place in Northern Italy, Piemonte, The Abbey of San Nazzaro Sesia. Will try & post a pic later.

posted 09-16-2001 06:39 AM            

Anyway, an abbey is mostly used as another name for a monastery.
More specifically, my dictionary says;
1."the religious body or establishment under an abbot or abbess, a monastery or convent"
2."the monastic buildings"
3."the church of an abbey"
4."(British) a country house that was formerly an abbatial house"

Hope that helps.

Erik

Ahh, you beat me to it Peter.
I'd love to see a pic of the one you visited.

posted 09-17-2001 06:17 AM            

Have a look and find some links at:
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/search/Abbeys