Prieuré grandmontain de Chavanon

English translation

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History

This 12th-century church presents the architectural characteristics of buildings linked to the order of the Grandmontines: external columns, archvolts without crossettes, unadorned volumes, fine ashlar. It constitutes the sole vestige of the priory of Chavanon whose 18th-century main dwelling has been demolished. Founded around 1130, Chavanon was erected as a priory in 1317. From the 14th century, the priory declined because of commendatory priors who appropriated the revenues of the domain without maintaining it. Only a single religious remained at the end of the 15th century. The priory was abandoned during the Wars of Religion. In 1771, a report describes the church, the cloister with its well and the rest of the buildings composing the priory. The southern main dwelling comprised the kitchens, the refectory, the office, the cellar, five cells, the parlour, the reception hall, and the infirmary. The eastern main dwelling contained the sacristy, the woodshed and three cells. Finally, the western main dwelling served as a parlour, a stable and contained the guardroom.