Priory of Saint-Pierre de Bredons
Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul de Bredons / Bredom / Bredonium
(Albepierre-Bredons, Cantal)
Between 1048 and 1071, the abbey of Moissac (Tarn-et-Garonne) was governed by Abbot Durand de Bredon (†1071), who was also bishop of Toulouse and a native of these lands. Around 1060, Abbot Durand donated to Moissac a chapel that already existed at Bredons and promoted the construction of the priory of Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul, an initiative confirmed by Viscount Guillaume de Murat. The priory church was consecrated in 1095 and, from then on, it experienced significant development thanks to the support of the Murat family; there was even an attempt to turn it into an abbey.
In the last quarter of the 13th century, the priory was fortified. In 1317, with the creation of the new diocese of Saint-Flour, it became part of that jurisdiction. Between 1331 and 1332, the priory suffered serious conflicts with the commandery of Celles (Cantal), which affected its estates, a situation further worsened in the mid-century by the Hundred Years’ War. With its decline, the priory gradually became a chapter of canons and was eventually secularised. The Revolution led to its abandonment: the church was closed in 1791 and shortly afterwards the priory buildings were used as a stone quarry for other constructions. Only the church was preserved, later restored.
Pillar of the Moissac cloister
- BOUFFET, Hippolyte (1906-07). Le prieuré de Bredom. Revue de la Haute-Auvergne, núms. 8-9. Aurillac
- COTTINEAU, Laurent-Henri (1936). Répertoire topo-bibliographique des abbayes et prieurés. Vol. 1. Mâcon: Protat
- CRAPLET, Bernard (1972). Auvergne romane. La nuit des temps, 2. Zodiaque
The priory church is located within the commune of Albepierre-Bredons, to the west of Saint-Flour