Louis Boudan (17th-18th century)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Photo by Patrick Boyer, on Wikimedia
The Premonstratensian priory of Aubeterre has an uncertain origin. It is thought that around 965–970 it was a Benedictine nunnery dependent on Saint-Pierre de Souvigny (Allier). In the early twelfth century it had fallen into decline and was restored by Gilbert de Neuffonts (c. 1100–1152), who had previously founded the Abbey of Saint-Gilbert de Neuffonts (Allier). Through this intervention, the monastery became Premonstratensian. Gilbert appointed his wife, Pétronille, as abbess, and their daughter Poncia also joined the community; both are regarded as saints. Little is known about its later history, but the house remained under the supervision of Neuffonts. By the early seventeenth century the community had disappeared, although the title of priory survived until the Revolution..
- ARDURA, Bernard (1993). Abbayes, prieurés et monastères de l'ordre de Prémontré. Nancy: Presses U. De Nancy
The Benedictine priory of La Chapelaude was a dependency of the abbey of Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis). Exceptionally, numerous documents concerning this establishment have been preserved, although some are regarded as forgeries. According to these texts, the site was given to Saint-Denis in 1059 by Jean de Saint Caprais, at which time a priory was founded, initially dedicated to Saint Denis. The first known prior was Hugh. In 1067, Archambaud III of Bourbon confirmed the donation before King Philip I of France.
At the end of the twelfth century, this priory and its mother abbey were involved in a dispute with the monastery of Sacra di San Michele (San Michele della Chiusa, near Turin) over possession of the priory of Saint-Désiré (Allier), which ultimately remained under the authority of La Chiusa. La Chapelaude later faced other disputes with various institutions. The priory survived until the Revolution, with periods of decline. Today, a modest Romanesque church dedicated to Saint-Nicolas still stands.
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1912). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 5. Bourges. Abbaye de Ligugé
- CHAZAUD, Martial A. (1860). Fragments du cartulaire de la Chapelle-Aude. Moulins: Desrosiers
- CHÉNON, Émile (1915). Histoire et coutumes du prieuré de La Chapelle-Aude. París: Sirey
The priory of Notre-Dame d’Huriel was a dependency of the Benedictine abbey of Déols (Indre). It is first mentioned in a bull issued by Pope Paschal II in 1115. Information about this house is scarce, but a bull from Pope Innocent III, granted in 1212, confirms that it was still attached to Déols at that time. Its church has been preserved and later became a parish church at an unknown date. It consists of a single nave with a transept opening onto two apsidioles and a central apse, preceded by a porch or galilee.
Schematic plan of the church
- DESHOULIÈRES, M. (1939). Huriel. Église Notre-Dame. Congrès archéologique de France, 101 ss. Allier. Société Française d'Archéologie
- DUPONT, Jean (1976). Nivernais, Boubonnais roman. La nuit des temps, núm.45. Zodiaque, 1976
- DURET, Patricia (1991). L’église Notre-Dame d’Huriel. Congrès archéologique de France, 146 ss. Bourbonnais. Société Française d'Archéologie
- PRADEL, Pierre (1934). Saint-Désiré et Huriel. Moulins: Crépin-Leblond
This was a former Templar commandery which, after the suppression of the Order of the Temple, passed to the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. The names of the last Templar commanders are known from the time of the suppression process. Later, the house became dependent on the Hospitaller commandery of Lavaufranche (Creuse). The chapel, dedicated to Saint-Jean, is still preserved.
- NIEPCE, Léopold (1883). Le Grand-prieuré d'Auvergne. Lyon: H. Georg
- TRUDON DES ORMES, Amédée (1899). Liste des maisons et de quelques dignataires de l’Ordre du Temple. Revue de l'Orient latin, vol. VII