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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Priory Notre-Dame-du-Gayet de Chirens, founded in the 11th century probably by the lords of Clermont, belonged to the Order of Benedictines of Saint Peter of Vienna. Its Romanesque church, with massive walls and a choir in the Hemicycle, retains a rare apse in the Pays Voironnais, as well as inscriptions and frescoes made by François Chambon between 1686 and 1687. The site, sold in 1875 after the construction of a new church in the village, successively served as a theatre, warehouse and factory before being saved by painter Roger Lorin in 1962.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1973 for its church, murals and engraved inscriptions, the priory was completely restored by Lorin, who made it his Romanesque appearance. In 1964, the painter created a still active chamber music festival, and revealed remarkable elements such as the apse and carved capitals. Today, the site combines heritage and culture, welcoming classical concerts in the framework of the festival and temporary exhibitions.

Located in the hamlet of Gayet, close to the village of Chirens (Isère), the priory is accessible by the RD 1075 (ex-RN between Bourg-en-Bresse and Grenoble) or via the E and F bus lines of the Pays Voironnais network, connecting Voiron. Its typical Romanesque architecture, with rectangular nave and northern chapel, makes it a rare testimony of Dauphinese religious history, marked by the transformations of the twelfth, fourteenth, sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.

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