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Chablis History is made of misery and prosperity periods. Nevertheless, it seems that this area has a rich past history.
If we find some vestiges of a fortified farm (Bretauche or Breteche) from the Gallic period, we note that the first vines plantations began under Emperor Probus during the third century.
As for the name of Chablis, it could come from 2 Celtic words "CAB" meaning "house" and "LEYA" meaning "wood".
The first writings concerning Chablis date back
to 510 when Sigismond first King of the Christians, funded a "CELLA",
little monastery in the name of Saint-Loup who stopped the Huns from Attila
in front of the city of Troyes in 450.
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Charles Martel took possession of the monasteries and their goods, which were transfered to his successors, the Carolingian Kings. Chablis grew up and, in 805, Charlemagne built for the countrymen the first church dedicated to St-Maria.
In 865 ,the monks of Tours fleeing the Normand invasions arrived in Chablis
and brought with them the relic of St-Martin, who was their patron.
The monks who lived in Saint Loup monastery, extended it and founded the "Collegiale
St Martin" on order of Hugues de MERIGNAC from Maligny.
"L' avouerie" (i.e. the protection of the monastery )and its outbuildings
got back to the kings of France.
In the Middle-Age, Chablis was protected by the Comte of Champagne.
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In 1128 the Cistercians monks of Pontigny Abbey stored , in
their cellar called the "Petit Pontigny" in Chablis , the harvest
of their 18ha vineyard (+/- 66 000 liters). At that time the Chablis wines
competed with the wine from Auxerre specially for the export, even though
Beaune and Bordeaux were unknown.
The monks continued to develop the vineyard and contributed to the Chablis
wines success and reputation.
St Pierre’s church next to Ste Marie de Charlemagne’s church was built during the twelveth century.
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The first harvest permit appeared in 1230.
During the fifteen century Chablis grew up and fortified itself. In 1429,
Jeanne d'Arc came in Chablis and stayed here for a night.
We also note that the fifteenth century marked the return of Chablis to Burgundy
after Charles Le Téméraire death.
In 1478, we can also note that Pierre Lerouge settled the 5th printing house
of France.
In 1537, the city counts 4,000 inhabitants and is at its apogee. In 1568 the Huguenots invaded, plundered and fired Chablis. Only one quarter will be rebuilt. Lots of people were killed, the town records burned and the relics of the church dispersed.
We will have to wait until the 18th century to see Chablis being re- build
again and the prosperity coming back.
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After the Revolution, St Pierre and Ste Maire de Charlemagne churches were sold as public goods to Simon Depaquit, former attorney of Pontigny’s Abbey.He was responsible for the destruction of Ste Marie and 2/3 of St Pierre. The rest, bought back by Edme Begue and 17 winemakers were saved from demolition. Then the church was classified as an historical monument.
From that time, Chablis lived according to the hours of the French History.
In 1870, the Prussians occupied the city and holded it after the murder of one of their officers.
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After living through the first attack of mildiou in 1880 and the destruction of the vineyard by the phyloxera at the end of the 19th century, the Germans army bombarded the city in 1940 and destroyed many of historical recollection which had escaped from the Huguenot fire from in February 1568.
Then we’ll have to wait until the mid 1950’s and the faith of some men from Chablis to see the vineyard resurrection.
Nowadays, Chablis vineyard and wines are among the best white wines in the world.