In the year 785, on the occasion of the foundation of the abbey of Saint-Sauveur de Charroux (Vienne), Count Roger of Limoges and his wife Euphrasia endowed it with various properties, including the castle and the monastery of Saint-Angel, along with all their belongings.
The confirmations of Charroux’s possessions mention this estate from the year 1050, maintaining the designations of both castle and monastery, thus reflecting its dual nature, ecclesiastical and feudal. Later on, the monastery took on the title of priory. Due to its military character, the site suffered several attacks, first in 1180 and later in 1375 during the Hundred Years' War, when it was besieged. In the years that followed, records indicate reconstruction work.
At the beginning of the 16th century, the house came under the governance of commendatory priors. It again suffered destruction towards the end of the same century as a result of the Wars of Religion. During the second half of the 17th century, it was reformed in terms of religious observance, upon joining the Congregation of Saint-Maur. Immediately thereafter, the Maurists began restoring its buildings. At this point, dependency on Charroux became merely nominal. In 1790, the priory was suppressed due to the Revolution, and the following year, its assets were sold off.
The priory church still stands today. Originally Romanesque, it has been significantly altered over time, especially during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is a three-nave structure with a transept; the central apse spans the full width of the three naves and includes three rectangular radial chapels, similar in layout to the two chapels that open into the transept arms. On the south side of the church, adjoining the transept, is the restored chapter house.
Chapter house
Chapter house
Chapter house
Monasticon Gallicanum
Bibliothèque nationale de France
- ANDRAULT-SCHMITT, Claude (2007). Saint-Angel, église et prieuré. Congrès archéologique de France, 163e session, 2005, Corrèze. Société française d’archéologie
- BAUDOT, Anatole de; i altres (1898-1903). Archives de la Commission des monuments historiques. Vol. IV. París: Laurens
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1912). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 5. Bourges. Abbaye de Ligugé
- COTTINEAU, Laurent-Henri (1939). Répertoire topo-bibliographique des abbayes et prieurés. Vol. 2. Mâcon: Protat
- PEIGNÉ-DELACOURT, Achille (1877). Monasticon Gallicanum. Paris: G. Chamerot
- POULBRIÈRE, Jean-Baptiste (1880). Les églises de Saint-Angel et de Meymac : histoire et description. Tulle: Crauffon
- VAYSSIÈRE, Augustin (1884). Le prieuré de Saint-Angel (Corrèze). Brive: Roche
The priory of Saint-Angel is located northeast of Tulle, in the direction of Clermont-Ferrand