Nottonville Priory
Nantulfum / Villa Nantonensis / Nothonville / Abbaye du Bois
(Nottonville, Eure-et-Loir)
The site of Nottonville may have been occupied since the Carolingian period. In the 11th century, it was owned by the viscounts of Chartres. In 1073, Viscount Evrard of Breteuil donated his possessions at Nottonville to Marmoutier Abbey (Indre-et-Loire), which he shared with his brother. Evrard embraced the religious life, undertook a pilgrimage and, on his return, entered Marmoutier as a monk.
His brother Hugh visited him at the monastery and confirmed the donation, while also transferring his half of the estate. In 1077, a third brother, Galeran, renounced his rights over Nottonville. Marmoutier established a priory there, known as Nottonville, Bois de Nottonville and even as Abbaye du Bois, although it never held this title. The complex was fortified after the Hundred Years’ War. In the 16th century, it lost its religious character and was retained solely as a centre for managing the lands owned by Marmoutier Abbey in the area, as well as for the administration of justice and the prison.
Under the commendatory system, its administration passed into the hands of the Diocese of Tours. Shortly before the French Revolution, proceedings were initiated for its sale, which took place in 1792. It was a seigneurial estate devoted to agricultural activities, with a chapel but without the large buildings normally associated with a monastic establishment, such as a cloister. Today, in addition to the agricultural structures, several defensive features survive, including a notable gateway, but the large medieval seigneurial tower has been lost.
Detail of Carte générale de la France
Cassini de Thury (1759-60)
Bibliothèque nationale de France,
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1905). Recueil historique des Archêvechés, Évêchés, Abbayes et Prieurés de France. Vol. 1. Province ecclésiastique de Paris. París: Poussielgue
- BORDAS, Jean Baptiste (1851). Chorographie du Dunois. Châteaudun: Aug. Lecesne
- LEFÈVRE-PONTALIS, Pierre (1888). La fin du prieuré de Nottonville. Bulletin de la Société dunoise. Archéologie, histoire, sciences et arts. Châteaudun: Pouillier
- MABILLE, Emile (1874). Cartulaire de Marmoutier pour le Dunois. Châteaudun: Henri Lecesne
- MARTÈNE, Edmond; CHEVALIER, C. (1874-75). Histoire de l’abbaye de Marmoutier. 2 Vols. Tours
- MERLET, René (1897). Inventaire sommaire des archives départementales antérieures à 1790. Eure-et-Loir : archives ecclésiastiques. Série H. T. VIII. Chartres: Garnier
- RACINET, Philippe (1995). Nottonville (Eure-et-Loir). L'Abbaye. Archéologie médiévale
- RACINET, Philippe (1997). Nottonville – L’abbaye. Archéologie de la France
Nottonville Priory is located northeast of Châteaudun