Journet - Prieuré de Villesalem

Audebert, a local noble, let some hermits settle here in 1089. About 20 years later Robert d'Arbrissel, founder of Fontevrauld Abbey, purchased the place and the Bishop of Poitiers authorized the construction of a priory, dependent of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontevraud. The church was built between 1130 and 1140.

Like all "daughters" of Fontevrauld founded by Robert d'Arbrissel, the priory of Villesalem welcomed men and women, placed under the authority of an abbess. So the priory included a convent of monks and one of nuns.

During the 12th and the 13th centuries, the priory got wealthy and could finance the erection of the church and the convent´s buildings.

The Hundred Years War ravaged the site several times. In 1369, the English troops led by John Chandos ransacked Villesalem and damaged the church. The devastation was enormous and the monks abandoned the priory at the end of the 15th century. In the 17th century, it became a nunnery.

In 1790, during the French Revolution, the 16 nuns living here, were expelled, and the priory and the land around was sold at auction in 1791. The buildings got converted for agricultural use and were used as stables and barns.

Classified as a historic monument in 1914 it got bought by the state in 1962. The site is undergoing restoration, supported by the "Association des Amis de Villesalem", which even offers tours, but - not when I was here. Sometimes opening hours are really very limited, and for that, my planing is too chaotic, so I could only walk around.

A detailed look at the lower part´s archivolt. The artistic style and the icons are very similar to works in the Saintonge.