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Origin and history

The ancient monastery of the Augustines of Vals-near-le-Puy finds its origins in the intense flow of pilgrims and travelers taking the route of the Midi, at the gates of Puy. As early as 1200, the Saint-Benoît Madrery, dependent on the Abbey of Pébrac, was founded to welcome these travelers. In 1313 the Augustine monks of Saint-Benoît de Val contributed to the establishment of Augustine nuns, whose convent gradually extended. The Bourguignons invaded the site in 1419, and major repairs were carried out in 1601, marking the beginning of its current structure.

In the 17th century, the buildings of the monastery took shape, with extensions around 1650, 1700 and 1781. The French Revolution led to its sale as a national good in 1794. In 1828, the Jesuits installed and added facilities, including the Jesuit chapel around 1870, decorated with artistic works on wood. Today, only a few elements remain, such as the bossed doors and a torso baluster staircase, classified as historical monuments in 1973.

No remains of the founding period are preserved, with the possible exception of an underground vault linking the door to the church. The buildings, organized in a complex manner, reflect the successive changes to the site. In 1969, the municipality acquired the remains and integrated them into the city hall, thus preserving this heritage linked to the religious and hospital history of the region.

The monastery illustrates the evolution of monastic establishments in Upper Loire, from the care of pilgrims to an educational and spiritual vocation under the Jesuits. Its architecture combines traces of the 17th and 18th centuries, while its history reflects the political and religious upheavals of France, from the Hundred Years' War to the Revolution.

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