Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The priory of Saint Cosme de Tours, founded in the 11th century by the treasurer Hervé de Buzançais on an island of the Loire, was initially a Romanesque monastery surrounded by a church and a cloister. He welcomed a community of regular canons of Saint-Augustin, dependent on the abbey of Saint-Martin de Tours. The oldest vestiges, such as the refectory with sculpted burnings, illustrate Tourangelle Romanesque architecture. The church was enlarged in the 15th century in a flamboyant Gothic style, while the repeated floods forced the religious to exhale the floors of a metre.

In the 12th century, the priory reached its peak with the construction of a foreporch (narthex), a prioral home, and the extension of the hotel and infirmary. In the 16th century, the poet Pierre de Ronsard, COMMANDARY prior from 1565 to 1585, lived there, died there and was buried there. He strengthened the site after the Huguenot destruction and restored the prioral home. The wars of Religion and economic problems led to the abandonment of the priory in 1742, followed by the partial dismantling of its buildings by the canons.

In the 20th century, the priory became a place of memory and creation. The remains of Ronsard were rediscovered in 1933, and a museum was dedicated to him in his home. After the 1944 bombings which destroyed part of the buildings, the department of Indre-et-Loire became its owner in 1951. Since then, the site, classified as Monument Historique, houses a unique collection of poor books (works by contemporary artists) and hosts exhibitions such as those of Ernest Pignon-Ernest or Georges Rousse. Archaeological excavations in 2009-2010 revealed new burials and remains.

Today, the priory combines medieval heritage and contemporary art. The Romanesque refectory, adorned with stained glass windows by Zao Wou-Ki (2010), stands alongside ephemeral installations such as Georges Rousse's in 2016. The poetic library, created in 2008, preserves 2,000 poor books, the fruits of collaborations between poets (Yves Bonnefoy, Annie Ernaux) and painters (Pierre Alechinsky, Claude Viallat). This dialogue between history and creation makes the priory a dynamic cultural place in the Centre-Val de Loire.

Future

The priory is open to the public all year round on a main theme of "Ronsard and poetry".
His house has now become a must-see step in the new stage path for the public. Listening poems, projections, books, games allow to enter the universe of the poet of the Pleiade.

The following are proposed:
-Free visit of the « Voeu de poésie » course with accompanying booklet: FR/EN
-Guided visit (FR/EN) included in the ticket price, duration 1h15, booking highly recommended.
-Petit Pierre course for children aged 8 to 12 years included in the ticket price.
-Home for school groups and adult groups FR/EN (compulsory reservation)

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