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Origin and history

The Priory Saint-Symphorien de Marolles-les-Braults was founded in 1229 by Mathieu Pallu, under the authority of the Abbey of the Couture du Mans. This religious site, located in the current department of Sarthe ( Pays de la Loire region), bears witness to a medieval monastic occupation over an ancient fortified estate, of which the moat partially remain.

The church of the Priory was probably rebuilt in the 15th century, while the Prioral House was built in the early 16th century. The rooms of the house, decorated with decorations, date back to the 18th century. This monument thus illustrates several architectural phases, from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

The chapel and the prioral house were listed as historical monuments by order of 11 April 1995. The priory, composed of a mansion and a chapel, historically depended on the Benedictine abbey of the Couture. Its location on an ancient fortified site underlines its strategic and religious importance in the Maine region.

Today, the Saint-Symphorian priory retains defensive elements (douves) and buildings representative of its evolution, from its medieval foundation to its 17th and 18th century developments. It is a remarkable example of the Sardinian monastic heritage, linked to the history of the Mancellian abbey of the Couture.

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