Le Prieuré du Puley

Once in front of this imposing and majestic arcaded façade, dare to approach and push open the door of the former 12th-century Prioral church. The remains of the church will amaze you and take you back in time. Take a step back, look up and take a closer look at the stones of the monument, some of which will reveal little marvels!

This Romanesque church, which can be dated to the early 12th century, was the seat of a priory of nuns, attached to the Benedictine abbey of Lancharre (located in the commune of Chapaize) from 1263. The history of Le Puley merges with that of Lancharre: the archprioress of Lancharre, Marie du Blé d'Uxelles, who reformed her abbey, obtained permission from the bishop of Chalon, Cyrus de Thiard, to unite the two communities.
The prioress of Le Puley, Constance du Blé, made her aware of the dilapidation and insecurity of the premises. In 1636, the two communities were transferred to Chalon and the church was abandoned.
In the second half of the 19th century, the church was in ruins and its bell tower collapsed. In the 20th century, the Association de Sauvegarde et de Mise en Valeur du Prieuré du Puley set about restoring it through volunteer work, with the aim of preserving its state of conservation and bringing the site to life.
The church, listed as a Historic Monument in 1973, is almost entirely in the open air. Only the north aisle is covered, while the apses and apsidioles are intact.

To find out more, panels inside the church explain the restoration work.