Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Francois de Besnais

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.