Commagny Priory
Commagniaco / Colmaniaco / Saint-Hilaire / Saint-Laurent de Commagny
(Moulins-Engilbert, Nièvre)
The site of Commagny formed part of the endowment made by Queen Brunhilda (c. 545–613) when, around 589, she founded the Abbey of Saint-Martin of Autun (Saône-et-Loire). It is believed that, around the eighth century, the Abbey of Autun established a monastery there, dedicated to Saint-Hilaire. However, there is no documentary evidence for the existence of the priory until 1161, when it is mentioned in a charter of Bernard, Bishop of Nevers, confirming the churches dependent on the Abbey of Autun, including the priory of Commagny.
Information about the priory is scarce. In 1164 it is mentioned again in a bull of Pope Alexander III and, later, it came under the patronage of Saint-Laurent. In 1570, the town and the priory fell victim to a fire caused by a Huguenot attack. In 1652, the house was reformed following its incorporation into the Congregation of Saint-Maur. In addition to the priory buildings, the Romanesque church survives, with a single nave, transept and an apse-ended chevet with three semicircular apses. It contains several figurative capitals.
- BERNARD, Serge (2005). Prieuré Saint-Hilaire de Commagny. Vents du Morvan, núm. 18
- BESSE, Jean-Martial (1913). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France, vol. 6. Province ecclésiastique de Sens. Ligugé/París
- BULLIOT, Gabriel (1849). Essai historique sur l'abbaye de Saint-Martin d'Autun de l'ordre de Saint-Benoît. Chartes. Autun: Dejussieu
- CROSNIER, Augustin-Joseph (1877). Les congrégations religieuses dans le diocèse de Nevers. Vol. 1. Nevers: Michot
- DUPONT, Jean (1976). Nivernais, Boubonnais roman. La nuit des temps, núm.45. Zodiaque, 1976
- JULLIEN, Amédée (1883). La Nièvre à travers le passé. Nevers: Michot
- MARTIN-DEMÉZIL, Jean (1967). Commagny. Congrès archéologique de France. 125ss. Nivernais. Société française d'archéologie
- MOREAU, Victor (1901). Notice sur Commagny. Bulletin de la Société nivernaise des lettres, sciences et arts. Nevers
The Priory of Commagny belongs to the commune of Moulins-Engilbert, east of Nevers, on the road towards Autun