Prieuré de Lavaré
AbbeyHidden Treasure
Prieuré de Lavaré, located in Fondettes (Indre-et-Loire), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Abbey
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Fondettes, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.4359, 0.6083
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00097760
Founded around 1100 and bequeathed to Marmoutier, the Lavaré priory between Fondettes and La Membrolle conceals a spectacular medieval barn, a cousin of the one at Meslay, and a priory dwelling flanked by its stair turret.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
Nestling in the greenery between Fondettes and La Membrolle-sur-Choisille, the Lavaré priory belongs to that category of discreet monuments that reserve first-rate architectural surprises for the attentive visitor. Far from the tourist hustle and bustle of the nearby Loire, the complex retains an atmosphere of contemplation and isolation that nine centuries of history have not diminished. What distinguishes Lavaré from all the other priories in Touraine is the remarkable coherence of its fortified enclosure. The north-western perimeter wall is still standing, punctuated by the remains of a gateway and crowned by a corner tower, a reminder that medieval monastic life did not exclude military prudence. Within this protected perimeter, the cylindrical dovecote - a circular dovecote - bears witness to the priory's privileged economic and legal status, with only powerful lords and religious establishments enjoying the right to a dovecote. The masterpiece of the estate remains the Lavaré barn, whose architecture commands respect. Its gables are buttressed by powerful buttresses and pierced by monumental portals set in forebays, immediately evoking the tithe barn at Meslay, one of the masterpieces of medieval agricultural architecture in Touraine. To see these two buildings is to understand how Marmoutier Abbey managed its estates with a rigour of construction as constant as its liturgical practices. The Prior's dwelling completes the ensemble admirably: while its main façade has been altered over time, its rear façade has retained its exterior staircase turret intact, a characteristic feature of 15th and 16th century domestic architecture in the Loire. This contrast between a facade smoothed by the centuries and a preserved backyard is in itself a lesson in living architecture. Lavaré Priory will appeal above all to lovers of rural heritage, to photographers in search of the golden light on the tufa stone, and to walkers looking for the deepest Touraine, the one that ordinary guidebooks forget to mention.
Architecture
The oldest parts of Lavaré priory are late Romanesque, with the 13th-century elevations moving towards Gothic, before the Renaissance influenced the layout of the priory dwelling in the 16th century. Tuffeau stone, the preferred material of Touraine builders because it is light and easy to cut, probably forms the bulk of the masonry, giving it the ivory hue that is so characteristic of the Loire Valley. The fortified enclosure structures the complex in a tightly-packed layout. The north-west wall, which is still largely intact, bears witness to careful masonry work, reinforced by the corner tower, whose layout and elevation are reminiscent of rural defensive systems of the late Middle Ages. The doorway, the remains of which remain, would have had a semi-circular or pointed arch, framed by moulded Gothic-style jambs. The wall of an outbuilding still contains a geminated bay, a rare vestige of a window with a median colonnette characteristic of 13th-century architecture. The tithe barn is the most spectacular piece of architecture on the site. It features a large, longitudinal nave - comparable to the impressive dimensions of the Meslay barn - whose carriage portals are framed by projecting forebays that function like dressed buttresses, a solution that is both technical and aesthetic, giving the building its monumental rhythm. The shouldered gables reinforce this impression of controlled power. The Prior's dwelling, which is more intimate, is distinguished by its spiral staircase turret on the garden side, an element of comfort and prestige characteristic of Loire residences in the late Middle Ages. The cylindrical loft completes the picture, built of tufa rubble in the local tradition of tower dovecotes.
Related Figures
Fondateurs anonymes du prieuré (vers 1100), seigneurs locaux ou ecclésiastiques tourangeauxAbbés de Marmoutier (XIVe siècle), responsables de l'intégration de Lavaré dans le réseau de la grande abbayeSaint Martin de Tours, figure tutélaire du monachisme tourangeau dont l'héritage spirituel irrigue tous les établissements de la régionPrieurs commendataires du XVIe siècle, artisans discrets des remaniements Renaissance du logis prieuralMaîtres d'œuvre marmoutérins du XIIIe siècle, bâtisseurs de la grange dîmière dans le même esprit que celle de Meslay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Prieuré de Lavaré located?
Prieuré de Lavaré is located in Fondettes, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Prieuré de Lavaré built?
Prieuré de Lavaré dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Prieuré de Lavaré open to visitors?
Prieuré de Lavaré is currently closed to visitors.