Saint Nivard, Bishop of Reims, had a prophetic vision that convinced him to found a new monastery on the mountain of Hautvillers in the Marne department. In 650, he set on to build a church in honor of Saint Syndulphus. In 841, the abbey received the relics of Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, thus making Hautvillers a center of devotion and pilgrimage. Thanks to a significant donation from Catherine de' Medici, it was completely rebuilt at the beginning of the 17th century. The abbey grew anew and regained importance. Around 1670, Dom Pérignon had cellars built to store wine, quickly bringing great renown to the abbey, even reaching the royal court.