Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Prieuré de Saint Sulpice

The "Priory of Saint Sulpice" is located about 4km south east of Les Ormes, near the "Château de La Fontaine". The priory was depended from the Benedictine "Abbey of Noyers", founded near Nouatre (16km north) in 1030. In 1035 land was given to the abbey here, so the the abbey could establish the priory soon after. The size of area was defined by what "could be ploughed by six oxes within a day" (~10 acres). This makes clear, that the monks installed a working farm here, producing food and funds for the abbey. This is still clearly visible, as many buildings of the priory still exist. Over the centuries a small hamlet grew up around the (fortified!) priory. The priory is privately owned since the French Revolution. We were lucky, to meet the owner, who not only allowed us to enter the premises but also showed us the priory and told us many details of it´s history. Merci beaucoup! The priory existed through many wars and feuds including the Hundred Years War and the French Wars of Religion. It was sold after the Revolution and in 1810 it was acquired the Marquis d’Aubery, who after having returned from the exile, resided in the near Château de La Fontaine. Upto 1860 the nave was used as a school. This graffito is in the area of the building, where the school once existed. This looks like one of the kids was really bored and so started this - secretly . The name is carved in in thre "versions". Who was "Lois Pherinie"? Or was this carved by the girl "Loise Herinie"?

The "Priory of Saint Sulpice" is located about 4km south east of Les Ormes, near the "Château de La Fontaine". The priory was depended from the Benedictine "Abbey of Noyers", founded near Nouatre (16km north) in 1030. In 1035 land was given to the abbey here, so the the abbey could establish the priory soon after. The size of area was defined by what "could be ploughed by six oxes within a day" (~10 acres). This makes clear, that the monks installed a working farm here, producing food and funds for the abbey. This is still clearly visible, as many buildings of the priory still exist. Over the centuries a small hamlet grew up around the (fortified!) priory. The priory is privately owned since the French Revolution. We were lucky, to meet the owner, who not only allowed us to enter the premises but also showed us the priory and told us many details of it´s history. Merci beaucoup! The priory existed through many wars and feuds including the Hundred Years War and the French Wars of Religion. It was sold after the Revolution and in 1810 it was acquired the Marquis d’Aubery, who after having returned from the exile, resided in the near Château de La Fontaine. Seen here (facing west) is the former nave. Upto 1860 the nave was used as a rural school. There were two classrooms, as a second level was installed at the time.

The "Priory of Saint Sulpice" is located about 4km south east of Les Ormes, near the "Château de La Fontaine". The priory was depended from the Benedictine "Abbey of Noyers", founded near Nouatre (16km north) in 1030. In 1035 land was given to the abbey here, so the the abbey could establish the priory soon after. The size of area was defined by what "could be ploughed by six oxes within a day" (~10 acres). This makes clear, that the monks installed a working farm here, producing food and funds for the abbey. This is still clearly visible, as many buildings of the priory still exist. Over the centuries a small hamlet grew up around the (fortified!) priory. The priory is privately owned since the French Revolution. We were lucky, to meet the owner, who not only allowed us to enter the premises but also showed us the priory and told us many details of it´s history. Merci beaucoup! The priory existed through many wars and feuds including the Hundred Years War and the French Wars of Religion. Most of the graffiti here were carved in after the Revoltion, when the monks had left. This large graffito is older. It was hidden behind a wall, that was installed, when the newer chapel was still used. It is mysterious. Seen are probably a couple of graffiti, maybe done in different times. The very large rectangular structure reminds me on to a quartered flag with a diagonal cross (saltire, "St. Andrew's Cross"), a common heraldic symbol. Then, there is the letter "M". The crosses (especially the large one) remind me on graffiti done by pilgrims. Strange are two "nose/eyes"-heads. The similar "Kilroy"/"Mr Chad" graffiti date back to the 1940s, these ones are probably some centuries older.

The "Priory of Saint Sulpice" is located about 4km south east of Les Ormes, near the "Château de La Fontaine". The priory was depended from the Benedictine "Abbey of Noyers", founded near Nouatre (16km north) in 1030. In 1035 land was given to the abbey here, so the the abbey could establish the priory soon after. The size of area was defined by what "could be ploughed by six oxes within a day" (~10 acres). This makes clear, that the monks installed a working farm here, producing food and funds for the abbey. This is still clearly visible, as many buildings of the priory still exist. Over the centuries a small hamlet grew up around the (fortified!) priory. The priory is privately owned since the French Revolution. We were lucky, to meet the owner, who not only allowed us to enter the premises but also showed us the priory and told us many details of it´s history. Merci beaucoup! The priory existed through many wars and feuds including the Hundred Years War and the French Wars of Religion. This statue of Saint Sulpice (aka "Sulpice le Pieux") was destroyed during the French Revolution. The parts were found by the owner of the priory - and put together. By digging in the garden human bones get unearthed at times, as this was a cemetery over centuries. The bones are collected and buried again on the hamlet´s new graveyard.

The "Priory of Saint Sulpice" is located about 4km south east of Les Ormes, near the "Château de La Fontaine". The priory was depended from the Benedictine "Abbey of Noyers", founded near Nouatre (16km north) in 1030. In 1035 land was given to the abbey here, so the the abbey could establish the priory soon after. The size of area was defined by what "could be ploughed by six oxes within a day" (~10 acres). This makes clear, that the monks installed a working farm here, producing food and funds for the abbey. This is still clearly visible, as many buildings of the priory still exist. Over the centuries a small hamlet grew up around the (fortified!) priory. The priory is privately owned since the French Revolution. We were lucky, to meet the owner, who not only allowed us to enter the premises but also showed us the priory and told us many details of it´s history. Merci beaucoup! The priory existed through many wars and feuds including the Hundred Years War and the French Wars of Religion. After the French Revolution all monks and lay brothers had left and the priory got sold. Soon after a school was installed in the church building. A perfect place to leave carved graffiti. This face was carved inside the church.

The "Priory of Saint Sulpice" is located about 4km south east of Les Ormes, near the "Château de La Fontaine". The priory was depended from the Benedictine "Abbey of Noyers", founded near Nouatre (16km north) in 1030. In 1035 land was given to the abbey here, so the the abbey could establish the priory soon after. The size of area was defined by what "could be ploughed by six oxes within a day" (~10 acres). This makes clear, that the monks installed a working farm here, producing food and funds for the abbey. This is still clearly visible, as many buildings of the priory still exist. Over the centuries a small hamlet grew up around the (fortified!) priory. The priory is privately owned since the French Revolution. We were lucky, to meet the owner, who not only allowed us to enter the premises but also showed us the priory and told us many details of it´s history. Merci beaucoup! The priory existed through many wars and feuds including the Hundred Years War and the French Wars of Religion. After the French Revolution all monks and lay brothers had left and the priory got sold. Soon after a school was installed in the church building. A perfect place to leave carved graffiti. These faces are from an outside wall.

The "Priory of Saint Sulpice" is located about 4km south east of Les Ormes, near the "Château de La Fontaine". The priory was depended from the Benedictine "Abbey of Noyers", founded near Nouatre (16km north) in 1030. In 1035 land was given to the abbey here, so the the abbey could establish the priory soon after. The size of area was defined by what "could be ploughed by six oxes within a day" (~10 acres). This makes clear, that the monks installed a working farm here, producing food and funds for the abbey. This is still clearly visible, as many buildings of the priory still exist. Over the centuries a small hamlet grew up around the (fortified!) priory. The priory is privately owned since the French Revolution. We were lucky, to meet the owner, who not only allowed us to enter the premises but also showed us the priory and told us many details of it´s history. Merci beaucoup! The priory is still completely surrounded by an old wall. This part of the garden reminds on a cloister.

The "Priory of Saint Sulpice" is located about 4km south east of Les Ormes, near the "Château de La Fontaine". The priory was depended from the Benedictine "Abbey of Noyers", founded near Nouatre (16km north) in 1030. In 1035 land was given to the abbey here, so the the abbey could establish the priory soon after. The size of area was defined by what "could be ploughed by six oxes within a day" (~10 acres). This makes clear, that the monks installed a working farm here, producing food and funds for the abbey. This is still clearly visible, as many buildings of the priory still exist. Over the centuries a small hamlet grew up around the (fortified!) priory. The priory is privately owned since the French Revolution. We were lucky, to meet the owner, who not only allowed us to enter the premises but also showed us the priory and told us many details of it´s history. Merci beaucoup! The chapel, seen here, was added to the priory´s church in 1538 by Seigneur Francois de Besnais, owner of the nearby "Château de La Fontaine". The coat of arms of the family is still up on the wall. Inside an arch separates the (old) nave from the (new) chapel - and so the noble family could attend the Mass, without being seen by the commoners. They even used this chapel as a burial ground, while the cemetery for monks and the parishioners was outside the church. Note the strange door of the church (left). After the Revolution, the western part of the nave got converted into the hamlet´s school. This was the entrance of the school consisting out of two classrooms.

The "Priory of Saint Sulpice" is located about 4km south east of Les Ormes, near the "Château de La Fontaine". The priory was depended from the Benedictine "Abbey of Noyers", founded near Nouatre (16km north) in 1030. In 1035 land was given to the abbey here, so the the abbey could establish the priory soon after. The size of area was defined by what "could be ploughed by six oxes within a day" (~ 10 acres). This makes clear, that the monks installed a working farm here, producing food and funds for the abbey. This is still clearly visible, as many buildings of the priory still exist. Over the centuries the hamlet Saint Sulpice grew up around the (fortified!) priory. The priory is privately owned since the French Revolution. We were lucky, to meet the owner, who not only allowed us to enter the premises but also showed us the priory and so we learned many details of the convent´s history. Merci beaucoup! Seen here is the priory´s church (11th./12th.c.). The younger building to the left is, where the lay brothers lived. Two baking ovens still exist in the building in the background.

The "Priory of Saint Sulpice" is located about 4km south east of Les Ormes, near the "Château de La Fontaine". The priory was depended from the Benedictine "Abbey of Noyers", founded near Nouatre (16km north) in 1030. In 1035 land was given to the abbey here, so the the abbey could establish the priory soon after. The size of area was defined by what "could be ploughed by six oxes within a day" (~10 acres). This makes clear, that the monks installed a working farm here, producing food and funds for the abbey. This is still clearly visible, as many buildings of the priory still exist. Over the centuries a small hamlet grew up around the (fortified!) priory. The priory is privately owned since the French Revolution. We were lucky, to meet the owner, who not only allowed us to enter the premises but also showed us the priory and told us many details of it´s history. Merci beaucoup! Seen here is the priory´s church (11th./12th.c.). The lower part of the wall was done with stones, that obviously originated from Roman ruins. Up to the roof ridge, the builders used small, unhewn stones. The window was wider once, but got narrowed, probably for reasons of fortification (some windows on the other side are bricked up). The tower is younger than the church. The structure right of the tower is a chapel in Renaissance-style, added in 1538.