The church of Saint-Pierre de Manthes was the seat of a Cluniac priory. At the end of the 10th century, the lords of Albon donated this site to the abbey of Cluny (Saône-et-Loire), where this house was founded. The priory comprised the church, a cloister—now lost—and other buildings, such as the prior’s house, which were altered over time.
In 1768, the last monks had left the priory. During the Revolution, the site was sold, and the church later resumed its function as a parish church. The present building is a reconstruction of the 11th and 12th centuries of an earlier structure; the oldest part is the chancel, with walls built of river pebbles.
Bibliography:
- BARRUOL, Guy (1992). Dauphiné roman. La Nuit des Temps, 77. Zodiaque
- CANAL, Alain; altres (1984). Manthes, prieuré Saint-Pierre. Bulletin Monumental, vol. 142/4
Location:
Manthes is located between Lyon and Valence, southwest of Beaurepaire