The imposing Priory of Pommiers has stood the test of time. Open door to the arts, it invites you on a journey through a thousand years of history. The guided tour takes you into the basements, cloister and framework of the building.
Visit the priory by Pommiers
Backed by a Romanesque church with exceptional acoustics, this imposing Cluniac priory has stood the test of time. A thousand years of history and architecture are revealed during the visit of this place with multiple legacies.
The classic cloister, retaining its gallery on two sides, is organized around a central breathing room. This ground floor alternating refectory, chapter house and lounges, surmounts medieval basements from the Romanesque period and serves as a base for the upstairs cells, refurbished in the XNUMXth century.e century.
The whole is overseen by oak frames, completely renovated and accessible to the public, only by guided tour.
Each era, each user has left a mark in the priory. Monks, bourgeois or even retired religious have all left a different imprint in the building that it is moving to find and decipher in each space.
If you ask us for our opinion, it is essential to take a guided tour to immerse yourself in the history of this site and understand all its architectural mysteries (duration of the visit: 1h15).
Note: During school holidays and the summer period, each week, a workshop or a "family" activity is offered (various themes).
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The most beautiful points of view of the priory of Pommiers
- The view of the south facade of the priory, with the towers of fortifications, below from the banks of the Aix.
- For a wider view, leave the village and go to the old Aix bridge, dating from the XVe century.
Key figures
- 1000 years of life in these places: in turn by monks, individuals, an association and today by stunned visitors!
- 12 : the number of monks supposed to live in this imposing monastery.
- 25 meters: the approximate height of the three round fortification towers, erected on the occasion of the Hundred Years War.
- 29 : the number of acoustic vases placed in the vault of the monastery church to control the resonance of the places, conducive to Gregorian chant.
I book my visit or my workshop
Peace of mind is the key word when entering the courtyard of the monastery. The sobriety of the place and the size of the buildings contribute to this timeless cocoon atmosphere.
Marie, cultural mediator at the Priory
On thehe way of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle
The Roannais has 4 stages of the road to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, route Cluny / Le Puy-en-Velay. After visiting Charlieu, the church of La Bénisson-Dieu, Ambierle, it is quite naturally the Priory of Pommiers which perfectly punctuates this itinerary in the Roannais. At the junction of Roannais and Forez, take the time to discover this majestic site and take the opportunity to breathe a little, you have just made 90 km in the Roannais.
DID YOU KNOW ?
According to an apocryphal legend, the foundation of the priory of Pommiers would be linked to the fate of Sainte-Prève, supposedly descendant of the count of Forez Gérard II. This young woman, after having taken a vow of celibacy, consecrated herself to God, which did not prevent a lord of her rank from asking her in marriage. Bad player, the rejected lord, spread rumors of guilty relations on the account of Prève. The latter's brothers, furious at this supposed lack of honor, took Prève on a fatal walk. After decapitating their sister, they hid her body in a well which later was the site of miracles and wonders. The old residence of Prève would then have been given to Cluny to found the priory there.
![Cloître du prieuré de Pommiers]()
Cloister of the priory of Pommiers © Gil Lebois / ADT42 ![Moment de calme au prieuré de pommiers]()
Moment of calm in the apple tree priory © Gil Lebois / ADT42
The history of the priory of Pommiers
This Cluniac monastery, founded before the year 1000, was fortified during the Hundred Years War. Then the less inhabited it and embellished it until the Revolution. The priory of Pommiers constitutes an extraordinarily preserved heterogeneous heritage complex.
During the French Revolution, when many Loire monasteries were vandalized or dismantled, often leaving only their churches, the priory of Pommiers-en-Forez was on the contrary modernized and preserved by its successive owners until the site was acquired by the Loire department in 1990.
Since then, spaces with varied atmospheres have opened up to the public. Come and discover Romanesque basements, fortifications dating from the Hundred Years War. Also discover the Renaissance-inspired mansion, the classic cloister and completely renovated oak frames.
Key dates
- 825 approximately: installation of a community of Benedictine monks from the abbey of Nantua
- 960 : admission of the abbey of Nantua and therefore of the priory of Pommiers in the great order of Cluny, by Saint Mayeul, which will lead to the construction of a new monastery dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul and the development of a community of Cluniac monks of a dozen individuals.
- XVe century : the priory is fortified with three large round towers and resists attacks due to the Hundred Years War
- 1452 : King Charles VII stays in the priory. During his stay, he will confirm the University of Caen in its privileges and will decide on the reconquest of Guyenne and Bordeaux.
- 1535 approximately: a commendatory prior, noble and lay, takes the head of the priory and builds a Renaissance-inspired mansion juxtaposed with the monks' living buildings.
- 1791 : after having been declared "national property", the priory is put up for public sale and bought by individuals who make it a pleasure residence and sell the related land in different lots.
- 1950 : the last owner, Marie-Thérèse de Rosemont, creates an Association for Retirement and Education with the mission of welcoming priests to the priory who are resting, convalescing and retiring. The association inherits the buildings and will continue to welcome retired religious until 1989.
- 1990 : the Loire department bought the buildings and after various restoration works, decided to open to the public from 2006.
Agenda
Just 50 minutes from Saint-Etienne, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, discover a rich program of events in this exceptional setting:
- Spring of the poets - March
- Forez music festival - July
Founded by Adrien and Christian-Pierre La Marca, violist and cellist respectively. The Forez Festival invites young talents in the sublime setting of the priory of Pommiers. The Priory is a place of musical creation recognized for its exceptional acoustics. The objectives: bring young musicians to the Loire and make classical music more accessible. Open door to the arts, this musical event invites you on an exceptional journey through a thousand years of history. Find out more
- European Heritage Days - September
Like the other sites in the Loire department, the priory opens its doors for the EHDs. Find out more
Note, from June to September, each year, the priory offers visitors a different temporary exhibition.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
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From January 01 to June 30, 2024
Full price Free visit – Full price Guided tour – Full price €4,50 |
Starting from 4 € |
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From January 01 to June 30, 2024
Reduced price Free visit – Reduced price Students, people with disabilities and job seekers. |
Starting from 3 € |
| From January 01 to June 30, 2024 Video guide supplement Tablet rental for the digital quest “1000 years of history at the priory” | Starting from 5 € |
|
From January 01 to June 30, 2024
Adult group Group guided tour From 10 people, subject to a single payment for the entire group |
Starting from 4 € |
|
From January 01 to June 30, 2024
Children group Guided tour / school activity From 10 children, subject to a single payment for the entire group |
Starting from 2 € |
|
July 01 to December 31, 2024
Full price Free visit – Full price Guided tour – Full price: €7 |
Starting from 4 € |
|
July 01 to December 31, 2024
Reduced price Free visit – Reduced price Students, people with disabilities and job seekers. Guided tour: €5 |
Starting from 3 € |
| July 01 to December 31, 2024 Video guide supplement Tablet rental for the digital quest “1000 years of history at the priory” | Starting from 5 € |
|
July 01 to December 31, 2024
Adult group Group guided tour From 10 people, subject to a single payment for the entire group |
Starting from 5 € |
|
July 01 to December 31, 2024
Children group Guided tour / school activity From 10 children, subject to a single payment for the entire group |
Starting from 2 € |
Frederique's opinion
With its 4 massive towers, we can say that the priory of Pommiers is impressive. From the old Aix bridge, take a few minutes to observe it and imagine it in the Middle Ages. Then, head to the reception of the priory to follow a guided tour that will take you from the basements to the roof. In the company of your experienced guide, you won't miss a thing and learn about the history of the priory through the centuries.
