Priory of Saint-Hilarion de Duravel

Prieuré Saint-Hilarion de Duravel / Duravelum

(Duravel, Lot)

Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel

Duravel had an ancient church, probably pre-Romanesque, to which some of the ancient capitals found in the present building may belong. However, it was not until 1055 that we have news of the church, when Gausbert and Seguin de Pestillac, lords of the place, gave it to the Abbey of Moissac (Tarn-et-Garonne). The first church was dedicated to Saint Stephen, but Moissac brought the relics of three hermits from the East, including Hilarion, to whom the site was dedicated.

Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel

Moissac would have founded a priory at the time the church was handed over, a place that would have been used to care for convalescent monks. The house fell victim to the Hundred Years' War and in 1596, during the Wars of Religion, the Huguenots set fire to the village and partially destroyed the church, desecrating the holy bodies that were venerated there. It was not restored until the 17th century, but in 1626 it was secularised, as was the case with the mother house in Moissac. After the French Revolution, the site was recognised as a historical monument and was gradually restored and recovered. A church, basically Romanesque but with later modifications, with three naves and three apses opening onto a transept, has been preserved. It also conserves the crypt where the holy relics were kept.

Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Church capital
Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Church capital
Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Church capital
Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Modern stained glass window with Saint Hilarion
Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Crypt
Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Crypt capital
Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Crypt capital
Priory of Duravel
Priory of Duravel
Crypt

Bibliography:
  • BEAUNIER, Dom (1911). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 4: Alby, Narbonne et Toulouse. Abbaye de Ligugé
  • POUSTHOMIS-DALLE, Nelly (1993). L’église de Duravel (Lot). Congrès Archéologique de France. 147. Quercy. París: Société française d'archéologie
  • REY, Raymond (1938). Duravel. Congrès Archéologique de France. 100e session. Figeac, Cahors et Rodez. París: Picard
  • ROUMEJOUX, M. de (1866). Notice sur l'église de Duravel (Lot). Congrès archéologique de France, 32 s. París: Derache
  • VIDAL, Marguerite (1959). Quercy roman. La Nuit des temps, 10. Zodiaque

Location:
Vista aèria

Duravel is located west of Caors, in the direction of Villeneuve-sur-Lot (Lot-et-Garonne).