Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The priory of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, located in Charolles en Saône-et-Loire, was founded in the 10th century by Benedictine monks under the dependence of Cluny Abbey. It was erected after the victory of King Raoul of Burgundy over the Normans, and a first church was built around 1044 by A. de Ragny. The priory then oversees several local churches, including those of Charolles, Saint-Symphorien and Vendenesse. A plaque indicates that it was partially burned in 1561 and almost ruined in 1814.

In the 15th century, the octagonal tower, the only current vestige of the priory, was built. The buildings were transformed into a boarding school for girls in the 19th century, thanks to the donations of Abbé François Pain (1829-1847), then became property of the hospital after 1904. Today, the site houses a museum dedicated to local art, exhibiting eleven 12th century Romanesque capitals and monster-carved beams.

Ranked and inscribed in historical monuments since 1987, the priory illustrates the Clunisian heritage in Burgundy. The large room on the ground floor is classified, while the rest of the priory (outside this room) is inscribed. The museum, associated with the label Musée de France, highlights the Charolaise faience, paintings and sculptures, as well as medieval architectural elements.

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