Paray-le-Monial Priory

At the beginning of the eleventh century, a new church preceded by a porch was built and consecrated in 1004. This building was replaced by a new structure, built during the twelfth century from the east end towards the porch. The narthex of the primitive church was retained, thus forming the remarkable building that survives today, with some modifications. Its plan shows that the nave and aisles are short in relation to their width and that the building was probably never completed to its full length. This has been associated with the instability of the ground caused by the proximity of the river, with possible funding problems, or with a combination of both factors.

In the last quarter of the fifteenth century, the priory and the town of Paray suffered the effects of the Hundred Years’ War and, later, of the Wars of Religion in the second half of the sixteenth century, particularly in 1562. The state of neglect persisted, but the monastic buildings were nevertheless renewed between 1702 and 1747. They were erected over the former medieval monastery, which disappeared. The Revolution brought communal life at the site to an end: the priory was suppressed in 1790, the last monks left in 1791 and, that same year, the complex was acquired by the municipality.

Initially, a single-nave church with a transept is thought to have been built, with an east end consisting of three apses opening onto the central nave, complemented by two further apses, one in each arm of the transept. The church also had a porch or narthex attached to the western façade. Very soon, during the twelfth century, the church was enlarged, with a new three-aisled building, transept and east end being constructed around it. The east end consisted of the chancel, provided with an ambulatory and three radiating chapels. There are two further apses, one in each arm of the transept, one of which was rebuilt in the fifteenth century. The primitive narthex survives.