Priory of Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste de Trizay
Prieuré de Trizay / Trisagium
(Trizay, Charente-Maritime)
The priory of Trizay was founded during the first half of the 12th century and entrusted to the abbey of La Chaise-Dieu (Haute-Loire), which retained it as one of its possessions in the former territory of Saintonge. Very little information is available about the site, which is first mentioned in the mid-12th century—suggesting it may have been founded shortly beforehand.
At that time, the church was built, parts of which still survive today. It was an octagonal structure—a rather uncommon design—with a main apse and two side apsidioles forming the chevet, which corresponds to the preserved section. The priory likely suffered during the Hundred Years’ War and was further damaged in the Wars of Religion, especially in 1585 and 1586, which brought the complex to ruin. It was never fully rebuilt; by the 18th century, the monastic community had all but disappeared, although a commendatory prior still held the title. By then, it had likely become an agricultural estate.
In 1791, during the Revolution, the priory was sold and converted into a farm. After its remains were protected by the authorities, the site was studied, excavated, and restored beginning in 1989. Today, it is used as a contemporary art centre. In addition to the remains of the church, the surviving structures to the east and south of the now-lost cloister are noteworthy, especially the chapter house and the refectory—the latter retaining fragments of wall painting.
Chapter house
Chapter house
Chapter house
Refectory
Old postcard, private collection
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Auch, Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- EYGUN, François (1979). Saintogne romane. La nuit des temps, 33. Zodiaque
- GENSGEITEL, Chistian; i altres (2020). Trizay, le prieuré Saint-Jean l’Évangeliste. Charente-Maritime. Monastères en Santonge. Congrès Archéologique de France, 177e session. París: Société Française d’Archéologie
Trizay is located just south of the town of Rochefort